Third Circuit / Appointed 1985 / Served to 2024
Walter King Stapleton
Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1985 and confirmed by voice vote, Walter King Stapleton was a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He earned a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1959. He previously served on the District of Delaware.Sources: FJC Biographical Directory · Senate confirmation, April 3, 1985
- Appointed by
- Ronald Reagan, 1985
- Confirmed
- by voice vote
- Education
- Princeton 1956 · Harvard Law School 1959
- Succeeded by
- Thomas L. Ambro
Federal judicial service
| Year | Court | Appointed by | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | District of Delaware · succeeded Edwin DeHaven Steel Jr. | Nixon (R) | voice |
| 1985 | Third Circuit | Reagan (R) | voice |
A per-senator roll-call isn’t shown for this confirmation. The Senate’s recorded roll-call votes begin in 1989; many confirmations (especially before then, and most to the lower courts) were by voice vote or unanimous consent.
Education
| Princeton University | A.B. | 1956 |
| Harvard Law School | LL.B. | 1959 |
| University of Virginia School of Law | LL.M. | 1984 |
Sources
39 years on the Third Circuit. Data last verified 2026-06-28. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).