Shannon Nicol Walker
MI · Judge, Criminal Division, Wayne County Third Judicial Circuit Court
Shannon Nicol Walker has been a Wayne County criminal division judge since 2015. She began as a public defender with the Legal Aid and Defender Association and later served as a Wayne County assistant prosecutor, including in the child and family abuse unit.
Where Shannon Nicol Walker stands, based on their records
Supports
Public Safety and Crime Control (1 record), Civil Rights (5 records)
Campaign finance information not available
Track record
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 support
Shannon Nicol Walker sentenced William Helmer to 40 to 80 years in prison for setting a woman on fire, citing his history of violence and the harm shown at trial.
November 29, 2023Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: clickondetroit.com · researched July 13, 2026
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 5 support
Shannon Nicol Walker vacated Kenneth Bullock's convictions and dismissed all charges under a stipulated order, leading to his release from prison.
May 28, 2025Supports Civil Rights
Source: waynecountymi.gov · researched July 13, 2026
Shannon Nicol Walker signed an order vacating Larry D. Smith's murder conviction and dismissing all charges after a Conviction Integrity Unit review found an unreliable informant, weak identification evidence, and no conclusive forensic link.
February 4, 2021Supports Civil Rights
Source: waynecountymi.gov · researched July 13, 2026
Shannon Nicol Walker dismissed murder charges against Kevin Harrington and George Clark based on newly discovered evidence after a Wayne County Conviction Integrity Unit investigation.
April 21, 2020Supports Civil Rights
Source: utility.waynecountymi.gov · researched July 13, 2026
Shannon Nicol Walker granted a joint motion to vacate Darrell Siggers's murder conviction after a prosecution expert recanted trial testimony linking bullets from the crime to a gun connected to Siggers.
July 19, 2018Supports Civil Rights
Source: exonerationregistry.org · researched July 13, 2026
Shannon Nicol Walker granted LaMarr Monson a new trial after reviewing evidence that his confession may have been coerced and that another person may have killed the victim; prosecutors later dismissed the murder charge.
January 30, 2017Supports Civil Rights
Source: utility.waynecountymi.gov · researched July 13, 2026
Track record — General
General · 1 record
Shannon Nicol Walker began serving in the Criminal Division of Michigan's Third Judicial Circuit Court on January 1, 2015 after her November 2014 election.
January 1, 2015
Source: 3rdcc.org · researched July 13, 2026
Track record — Impartiality
Impartiality · 7 favorable
Shannon Nicol Walker vacated Kenneth Bullock's convictions and dismissed all charges under a stipulated order, leading to his release from prison.
May 28, 2025Favorable on Impartiality
Source: waynecountymi.gov · researched July 13, 2026
Shannon Nicol Walker granted Eron Shelman a new trial based on newly presented witness evidence that directly impeached the prosecution's principal witness; the Michigan Court of Appeals later affirmed the ruling.
January 26, 2023Favorable on Impartiality
Source: exonerationregistry.org · researched July 13, 2026
Shannon Nicol Walker signed an order vacating Larry D. Smith's murder conviction and dismissing all charges after a Conviction Integrity Unit review found an unreliable informant, weak identification evidence, and no conclusive forensic link.
February 4, 2021Favorable on Impartiality
Source: waynecountymi.gov · researched July 13, 2026
Shannon Nicol Walker vacated Mark Craighead's manslaughter conviction and ordered a new trial after finding that newly documented misconduct by the detective who obtained his confession could have changed the verdict; the Court of Appeals later affirmed.
February 4, 2021Favorable on Impartiality
Source: exonerationregistry.org · researched July 13, 2026
Shannon Nicol Walker dismissed murder charges against Kevin Harrington and George Clark based on newly discovered evidence after a Wayne County Conviction Integrity Unit investigation.
April 21, 2020Favorable on Impartiality
Source: utility.waynecountymi.gov · researched July 13, 2026
Shannon Nicol Walker granted a joint motion to vacate Darrell Siggers's murder conviction after a prosecution expert recanted trial testimony linking bullets from the crime to a gun connected to Siggers.
July 19, 2018Favorable on Impartiality
Source: exonerationregistry.org · researched July 13, 2026
Shannon Nicol Walker granted LaMarr Monson a new trial after reviewing evidence that his confession may have been coerced and that another person may have killed the victim; prosecutors later dismissed the murder charge.
January 30, 2017Favorable on Impartiality
Source: utility.waynecountymi.gov · researched July 13, 2026
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 7 favorable
Shannon Nicol Walker vacated Kenneth Bullock's convictions and dismissed all charges under a stipulated order, leading to his release from prison.
May 28, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: waynecountymi.gov · researched July 13, 2026
Shannon Nicol Walker granted Eron Shelman a new trial based on newly presented witness evidence that directly impeached the prosecution's principal witness; the Michigan Court of Appeals later affirmed the ruling.
January 26, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: exonerationregistry.org · researched July 13, 2026
Shannon Nicol Walker signed an order vacating Larry D. Smith's murder conviction and dismissing all charges after a Conviction Integrity Unit review found an unreliable informant, weak identification evidence, and no conclusive forensic link.
February 4, 2021Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: waynecountymi.gov · researched July 13, 2026
Shannon Nicol Walker vacated Mark Craighead's manslaughter conviction and ordered a new trial after finding that newly documented misconduct by the detective who obtained his confession could have changed the verdict; the Court of Appeals later affirmed.
February 4, 2021Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: exonerationregistry.org · researched July 13, 2026
Shannon Nicol Walker dismissed murder charges against Kevin Harrington and George Clark based on newly discovered evidence after a Wayne County Conviction Integrity Unit investigation.
April 21, 2020Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: utility.waynecountymi.gov · researched July 13, 2026
Shannon Nicol Walker granted a joint motion to vacate Darrell Siggers's murder conviction after a prosecution expert recanted trial testimony linking bullets from the crime to a gun connected to Siggers.
July 19, 2018Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: exonerationregistry.org · researched July 13, 2026
Shannon Nicol Walker granted LaMarr Monson a new trial after reviewing evidence that his confession may have been coerced and that another person may have killed the victim; prosecutors later dismissed the murder charge.
January 30, 2017Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: utility.waynecountymi.gov · researched July 13, 2026
Race Shannon Nicol Walker is in:
- 3rd Circuit Judge of Circuit Court - Incumbent - 6 Year Terms · November 3, 2026 · Wayne County, Michigan · incumbent
Profile last researched August 7, 2026.