Ann Williams

Ann Williams
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Current Court Information:
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Title:	Judge
Position:	Seat #18
Station:	Chicago, IL
Service:
Appointed by:	Bill Clinton
Active:	11/15/1999 - Present
Preceded by:	Walter Cummings
Past post:	Northern District of Illinois
Past term:	1985-1999
Personal History
Born:	1949
Home State:	Detroit, MI
Bachelors:	Wayne State U. '70
Law School:	Notre Dame Law '75
Grad. School:	U. of Michigan '72

Ann Williams is a federal judge in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. She joined the court in 1999 after being nominated by President Bill Clinton.

Early life and education

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Williams graduated from Wayne State University in Michigan with her Bachelor's degree in 1970 and from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor with her Master's Degree in 1972. Williams went on to graduate from Notre Dame Law School in South Bend, Indiana in 1975.

Professional career

Williams was a law clerk for former Federal Appeals Judge, Robert A. Sprecher, in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit from 1975 to 1976. Wiliams served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, in various positions, for the Northern District of Illinois with the U.S. Attorney's Office from 1976 to 1985. From 1980 to 1983, Williams was the Deputy Chief U.S. Attorney for the Criminal Receiving and Appellate Division before serving as Chief U.S. Attorney in charge of the Anti-Corruption, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force for the Northern District of Illinois, from from 1983 to 1985.

Since 1979, Williams has served as an Adjunct Professor and lecturer at Northwestern University Law School in Evanston, Illinois and the John Marshall Law School, also in Chicago, Illinois.

Judicial career

Northern District of Illinois

On the recommendation of former Congressman Henry Hyde, Williams was notminated to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by Ronald Reagan on March 13, 1985 to a new judgeship created by 98 Stat. 333, which was approved by Congress. Williams was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 3, 1985, on a Senate vote and received commission on April 4, 1985. Williams was succeeded in this position by Joan Lefkow.

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

On the recommendation of U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, Williams was nominated to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals by President Bill Clinton on August 5, 1999, to a seat vacated by Walter J. Cummings, Jr. Williams was confirmed by the Senate on November 10, 1999 on a majority voice vote and received commission on November 15, 1999.

Pathways to the bench

Judge Hopkins was featured in the U.S. Courts "Pathways to the Bench" education program.

Potential Supreme Court nominee

It was reported in the April 21, 2010, edition of The Los Angeles Times that Judge Williams was on a list of ten potential candidates who could succeed retiring Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. Judge Williams was the first African-American to ever be confirmed to be a District Judge in the Seventh Circuit after President Ronald Reagan nominated her to the Northern District of Illinois in 1985.

Also, Williams earned the distinction as the first African-American to be elevated to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in 1993 when President Bill Clinton nominated her. President Obama said that he is looking to go beyond the traditional realm of nominating a Justice when making his selection.

Awards and associations

• 2009: Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award, American Judicature Society

See also

• United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

External links

• Judge Ann Williams Federal Judicial Center Bio

References

Federal judicial offices
Preceded by: NA - new seat	Northern District of Illinois 1985–1999 Seat #18	Succeeded by: Joan Humphrey Lefkow
Preceded by: Walter Cummings	Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals 1999–present	Succeeded by: NA

This page is missing notable case information.

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