 President Bill Clinton nominated Wilson to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit on May 27, 1999 to replace the vacancy created when Joseph W. Hatchett, his former boss who had since been transferred from the 5th Circuit to the 11th Circuit, retired.Wilson's nomination was relatively uncontroversial, earning bipartisan support from both of his state's United States Senators, Bob Graham and Connie Mack III.Wilson was confirmed by the Senate by voice vote on July 30, 1999.