Karen Johnson Williams (August 4, 1951 – November 2, 2013) was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, appointed in 1992 and served as its Chief Judge from 2007 until her retirement in 2009. Williams was mentioned as a potential nominee to the United States Supreme Court during the administration of George W. Bush.[1][2]
Karen J. Williams | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Williams in 2008 | |
| Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit | |
| In office July 8, 2009 – November 2, 2013 | |
| Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit | |
| In office July 1, 2007 – July 8, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | William Walter Wilkins |
| Succeeded by | William Byrd Traxler Jr. |
| Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit | |
| In office March 2, 1992 – July 8, 2009 | |
| Appointed by | George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Robert F. Chapman |
| Succeeded by | Henry F. Floyd |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 4, 1951 Orangeburg, South Carolina |
| Died | November 2, 2013 (aged 62) Orangeburg, South Carolina |
| Education | Columbia College (BA) University of South Carolina School of Law (JD) |
Education and career
editBorn in Orangeburg, South Carolina, Williams received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia College in 1972 and a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1980. She was in private practice in Orangeburg from 1980 to 1992.[3]
Federal judicial service
edit
On January 27, 1992, Williams was nominated by President George H. W. Bush to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit vacated by Judge Robert F. Chapman. She was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 27, 1992, and received her commission on March 2, 1992. She served as its chief judge from 2007 to 2009.[3]
Illness and retirement
editWilliams assumed senior status due to a certified disability on July 8, 2009 after being diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease.[3][4] She stated her desire to leave the bench while still able to perform her judicial duties, so that her future decisions would not be questioned because of her illness.[5] She died on November 2, 2013.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ John Monk, Early-onset Alzheimers forces Judge Karen Williams' retirement Archived 2009-10-12 at the Wayback Machine, The State (July 10, 2009).
- ^ Who, Marquis Who's (1 November 2001). Who's Who in the South and Southwest, 2001-2002. Marquis Who's Who, LLC. ISBN 9780837908328 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c "Williams, Karen J. - Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
- ^ Josh White and Jerry Markon, Diagnosis of Early Alzheimer's Forces Chief Judge to Retire, The Washington Post (July 10, 2009).
- ^ Dionne Gleaton, Alzheimer's forces judge's retirement, The Times and Democrat (July 9, 2009).
- ^ "ORANGEBURG, SC: Former federal judge Karen Williams dies; was a native of Orangeburg | Local News | the State". Archived from the original on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2013-11-30.
Sources
edit- Karen J. Williams at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.