▁a ▁federal ▁jud icial ▁nom ine e ▁to ▁the ▁U . S . ▁Court ▁of ▁App e als ▁for ▁the ▁Six th ▁Circ uit , ▁and ▁an ▁adj unct ▁professor ▁at ▁V ander b ilt ▁University ▁Law ▁School . ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁and ▁education ▁ ▁Born ▁in ▁Oak land , ▁California , ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 5 , ▁Wilson ▁earned ▁a ▁b ach elor ' s ▁degree ▁from ▁Stan ford ▁University ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 7 , ▁a ▁law ▁degree ▁from ▁V ander b ilt ▁University ▁Law ▁School ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 0 , ▁an ▁L . L . M . ▁in ▁tax ation ▁from ▁New ▁York ▁University ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 4 , ▁and ▁a ▁master ' s ▁degree ▁in ▁criminal ▁justice ▁from ▁the ▁un ac cred ited ▁Kennedy - West ern ▁University ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 5 . ▁ ▁Career ▁ ▁Private ▁practice ▁of ▁law ▁ ▁Wilson ▁is ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁bar ▁in ▁the ▁states ▁of ▁Tennessee ▁and ▁New ▁York . ▁He ▁pract iced ▁law ▁with ▁the ▁Nash ville ▁law ▁firm ▁of ▁W aller ▁L ans den ▁Dort ch ▁& ▁Davis , ▁L LP ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 6 ▁until ▁ 1 9 9 6 . ▁ ▁He ▁rejo ined ▁the ▁firm ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 3 ▁and ▁res igned ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 9 ▁when ▁he ▁became ▁state ▁compt roller . ▁ ▁Government ▁service ▁ ▁From ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁until ▁ 2 0 0 3 , ▁Wilson ▁was ▁deput