Omar A. Williams
Omar A. Williams | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut | |
| Assumed office November 12, 2021 | |
| Appointed by | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Alvin W. Thompson |
| Judge of the Connecticut Superior Court for the District of New London | |
| In office 2016 – November 12, 2021 | |
| Appointed by | Dannel Malloy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1977 (age 46–47) Rochester, New York, U.S. |
| Education | University of Connecticut (BA, JD) |
Omar Antonio Williams (born 1977)[1] is an American attorney serving as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut. He previously served as a judge of the New London District Superior Court from 2016 to 2021.
Early life and education
[edit]Williams was born in Rochester, New York. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Connecticut in 1998 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 2002.[2]
Career
[edit]Williams began his career as an assistant public defender. In 2014, he was nominated by Governor Dannel Malloy to serve as a judge of the New London District Superior Court.[3][4] On January 30, 2015, he was confirmed by a 34–0 vote.[5] Williams was involved with the New England Regional Judicial Opioid Initiative, the Sentence Review Division, and the Wiretap Panel.[6] In 2020, Williams served on a task force that provided recommendations on reforming the way jurors are selected for trial in Connecticut.[7]
Federal judicial service
[edit]On June 15, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Williams to serve as a United States district judge for the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut to the seat vacated by Judge Alvin W. Thompson, who assumed senior status on August 31, 2018.[8] On July 28, 2021, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[9] On September 23, 2021, his nomination was reported out of committee by a 13–9 vote.[10] On October 27, 2021, the United States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 52–46 vote.[11] On October 28, 2021, his nomination was confirmed by a 52–46 vote.[12] He received his judicial commission on November 12, 2021.[13] He was sworn in on November 22, 2021.[14]
See also
[edit]- List of African-American federal judges
- List of African-American jurists
- List of Hispanic and Latino American jurists
References
[edit]- ^ United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees: Omar Antonio Williams
- ^ "President Biden Announces 4th Slate of Judicial Nominations". The White House. June 15, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
- ^ "Gov. Malloy nominates four Connecticut residents to superior court, five to board of pardons and paroles" (Press release). October 8, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
- ^ "Bridgeport Man Appointed To Serve As Superior Court Judge". Bridgeport Daily Voice. October 11, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
- ^ "Vote for HJ-45 Sequence Number 35". January 30, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
- ^ "Omar A. Williams '02 Nominated to the U.S. District Court for CT | School of Law". June 17, 2021.
- ^ Murdock, Zach (April 6, 2021). "Democrats advance reforms designed by Connecticut judges, attorneys to reduce racial bias in jury selection". courant.com.
- ^ "Nominations Sent to the Senate". The White House. June 15, 2021.
- ^ "Nominations | United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary". www.judiciary.senate.gov. July 28, 2021.
- ^ "Results of Executive Business Meeting – September 23, 2021" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
- ^ "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Omar Antonio Williams to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Connecticut)". United States Senate. October 28, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
- ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Omar Antonio Williams, of Connecticut, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Connecticut)". United States Senate. October 28, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
- ^ Omar A. Williams at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- ^ "NEW JUDGE APPOINTED TO THE DISTRICT COURT" (PDF). ctd.uscourts.gov (Press release). November 30, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
External links
[edit]- Omar A. Williams at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- Omar A. Williams at Ballotpedia
- 1977 births
- Living people
- 21st-century American judges
- 21st-century American lawyers
- African-American judges
- Connecticut lawyers
- Hispanic and Latino American judges
- Hispanic and Latino American lawyers
- Judges of the Connecticut Superior Court
- Judges of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
- Lawyers from Rochester, New York
- Public defenders
- United States district court judges appointed by Joe Biden
- University of Connecticut alumni
- University of Connecticut School of Law alumni
- 21st-century African-American lawyers