Omar A. Williams
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
Assumed office
November 12, 2021
Appointed byJoe Biden
Preceded byAlvin W. Thompson
Judge of the Connecticut Superior Court for the District of New London
In office
2016 – November 12, 2021
Appointed byDannel Malloy
Personal details
Born1977 (age 46–47)
Rochester, New York, U.S.
EducationUniversity 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

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

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

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

References

  1. ^ United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees: Omar Antonio Williams
  2. ^ "President Biden Announces 4th Slate of Judicial Nominations". The White House. June 15, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "Bridgeport Man Appointed To Serve As Superior Court Judge". Bridgeport Daily Voice. October 11, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  5. ^ "Vote for HJ-45 Sequence Number 35". January 30, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  6. ^ "Omar A. Williams '02 Nominated to the U.S. District Court for CT | School of Law". June 17, 2021.
  7. ^ Murdock, Zach (April 6, 2021). "Democrats advance reforms designed by Connecticut judges, attorneys to reduce racial bias in jury selection". courant.com.
  8. ^ "Nominations Sent to the Senate". The White House. June 15, 2021.
  9. ^ "Nominations | United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary". www.judiciary.senate.gov. July 28, 2021.
  10. ^ "Results of Executive Business Meeting – September 23, 2021" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ Omar A. Williams at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  14. ^ "NEW JUDGE APPOINTED TO THE DISTRICT COURT" (PDF). ctd.uscourts.gov (Press release). November 30, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2023.

External links

Legal offices Preceded byAlvin W. Thompson Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut 2021–present Incumbent
Active district judges of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals
Categories