Riggs Walker Announces Candidacy for Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 5

From the Walker campaign

 Shorter, Alabama — Riggs Walker, a conservative Republican with more than 26 years of experience in criminal law, announced his candidacy on January 23 for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 5.

Riggs Walker, age 57, grew up in Shorter, AL, where he resides now. He graduated from Auburn in 1991 with a B.A. in Speech Communication. After graduation, he worked his way through law school by working in the printing industry. He graduated from Jones School of Law in 1998.

Upon graduation, he clerked for Circuit Judge William A. Shashy in the 15th Judicial Circuit. In 1999, he moved to Birmingham to work as a Deputy District Attorney in the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. For the last 6 years, Riggs Walker has worked as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Alabama. He represents the State in cases before the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, the Alabama Supreme Court, and the United States Federal Courts. Walker has extensive trial and appellate experience.

Riggs Walker has been married to his wife, Cheryl, for the last 26 years. They have two children: Riggs Jr., a junior at Auburn studying Political Science, and their daughter Ragan, a freshman at Auburn studying Industrial Engineering.

With two decades of service as a Deputy District Attorney in Jefferson County and the last six years as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Alabama, Walker has dedicated his career to upholding the law, protecting victims, and defending public safety.

“I am running for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals because we need judges who are experienced, principled, and committed to the rule of law,” said Riggs Walker. “This court handles the most serious criminal matters in our state. The people of Alabama deserve a judge with extensive trial experience, who understands the law, and respects the Constitution.”

Over the course of his career, Riggs Walker has prosecuted thousands of criminal cases, including homicides, burglaries, robberies, and theft offenses. His extensive courtroom experience has given him a deep understanding of criminal procedure, evidentiary standards, and the constitutional protections that guide Alabama’s judicial system.

As a conservative Republican, Riggs Walker believes in strict adherence to the Constitution and faithful interpretation of the law as written. He emphasizes that appellate judges must apply the law—not legislate from the bench.

“The role of an appellate judge is not to create policy, but to ensure that the law has been properly and fairly applied,” Riggs Walker said. “I have spent my career standing up for the rule of law. I am ready to serve on day one to bring that same commitment and experience to the Court of Criminal Appeals.”

The election for the statewide Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 5 race, will be held on Tuesday, May 19, in the Republican primary.

For more information about the campaign, visit Elect Riggs Walker, Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 5 on Facebook.