Judge in Disney-DeSantis Dispute Known for Torching GOP Policies

The Florida federal judge handling Walt Disney Co.’s lawsuit against Ron DeSantis has ruled against the Republican governor in previous high-profile cases, including last year blocking the governor’s “anti-woke” restrictions on workplace diversity training and university instruction.

Mark E. Walker has called laws championed by Republicans racist and dystopian and drawn public rebukes from DeSantis who accused him of “performative partisanship.”

Being in the center of partisan culture wars is an unexpected turn for Walker, a life-long Floridian and President Barack Obama nominee, confirmed unanimously by the Senate in 2012.

“I am surprised by the criticism that has been put ...