Charles Williams (Iowa)

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Charles Williams
Image of Charles Williams

Nonpartisan

United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
Tenure

2018 - Present

Years in position

6

Prior offices
United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa

Education

Bachelor's

University of Iowa, 1985

Law

University of Iowa Law, 1988

Personal
Birthplace
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Contact

Official website 

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Charles Joseph "C.J." Williams is the chief judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa. He was nominated to the court by President Donald Trump (R) on February 18, 2018, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 6, 2018, by a vote of 79-12.[1] In 2024, Williams became the chief judge of the court.[2] To see a full list of judges appointed by Donald Trump, click here.

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.

Prior to his confirmation, Williams was a federal magistrate judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa from 2016 to 2018.[3][4]

Judicial nominations and appointments

United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa (Article III, 2018-present)

See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump

Williams was nominated to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa by President Donald Trump (R) on February 18, 2018. The U.S. Senate confirmed Williams on September 6, 2018, by a vote of 79-12.[1] He received commission September 10. Williams became chief judge of the court in 2024.[2] To read more about the federal nomination process, click here.

Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: Charles Williams
Court: United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
Progress
Confirmed 203 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: February 15, 2018
ApprovedAABA Rating: Unanimously Well Qualified
Questionnaire: Questionnaire
ApprovedAHearing: March 21, 2018
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedAReported: April 19, 2018 
ApprovedAConfirmed: September 6, 2018
ApprovedAVote: 79 - 12

Confirmation vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed Williams on September 6, 2018, on a vote of 79-12.[1] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.

Charles Williams confirmation vote (September 6, 2018)
Party Yea Nay No vote
Electiondot.png Democratic 34 11 2
Ends.png Republican 44 0 7
Grey.png Independent 1 1 0
Total 79 12 9

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

Williams had his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 21, 2018. The committee voted to advance William's nomination to the full Senate on April 19, 2018..[1]

Nomination

Williams was nominated to replace Judge Linda Reade, who assumed senior status in 2017.

The American Bar Association unanimously rated Williams well qualified for the position.[5] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa (magistrate, 2016-2018)

In October 2015, Williams was selected to serve as a federal magistrate judge by judges from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa upon the recommendation of a merit selection panel and in accordance with 28 U.S.C. Section 631 and governing regulations for the selection of magistrates. His appointment became effective with Judge Leonard T. Strand's elevation to the district court on February 11, 2016. He served until 2018.[3]

Early life and education

Williams was born in 1963 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He earned his bachelor's and his J.D. from the University of Iowa. He later earned an LL.M. degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.[3]

Professional career

About the court

Northern District of Iowa
Eighth Circuit
IA-ND.png
Judgeships
Posts: 2
Judges: 2
Vacancies: 0
Judges
Chief: Charles Williams
Active judges:
Leonard T. Strand, Charles Williams

Senior judges:
Linda Reade


The United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa is one of 94 United States district courts. It is headquartered in Cedar Rapids, with satellite facilities in Sioux City. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, based in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, at the Thomas F. Eagleton Federal Courthouse and Building.

The Counties of the Northern District of Iowa (click for larger map)

The Northern District of Iowa has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.

There are four court divisions, each covering the following counties:

The Cedar Rapids Division, covering Benton, Cedar, Grundy, Hardin, Iowa, Jones, Linn, and Tama counties.

The Central Division, covering Butler, Calhoun, Carroll, Cerro Gordo, Emmet, Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, Humboldt, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Webster, Winnebago, Worth, and Wright counties.

The Eastern Division, covering Allamakee, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Floyd, Howard, Jackson, Mitchell, and Winneshiek counties.

The Western Division, covering Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Crawford, Dickinson, Ida, Lyon, Monona, O'Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Sac, Sioux, and Woodbury counties.


To read opinions published by this court,click here.

The federal nomination process

Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:

  • The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
  • The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
  • The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
  • As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
  • After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
  • If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
  • If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
  • The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
  • If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
  • If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Congress.gov, "PN1650 — Charles J. Williams — The Judiciary," accessed September 7, 2018
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Federal Judicial Center, "Williams, Charles Joseph," accessed March 19, 2024
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Northern District of Iowa, "Press release," accessed March 9, 2016
  4. ↑ The Gazette, "Assistant U.S. Attorney C.J. Williams chosen as next federal magistrate," October 28, 2015
  5. ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III and Article IV judicial nominees," accessed April 24, 2020

Political offices
Preceded by
- 		United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
2018-Present		 Succeeded by
-
Preceded by
- 		United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
2016-2018		 Succeeded by
-


Iowa courts

Federal courts:

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Northern District of Iowa, Southern District of Iowa • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Northern District of Iowa, Southern District of Iowa

State courts:

Iowa Supreme Court • Iowa Court of Appeals • Iowa district courts

State resources:

Courts in Iowa • Iowa judicial elections • Judicial selection in Iowa

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