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.
Track record
Track record — General
General · 2 records
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, 2023
Source: clickondetroit.com
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Past race Shannon Nicol Walker ran in:
- 3rd Circuit Judge of Circuit Court - Incumbent - 6 Year Terms · November 3, 2026 · Wayne County, Michigan · incumbent