- Ann Claire Williams
Ann Claire Williams (born
August 16 ,1949 ) is a United States Circuit Judge for theU.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit .Early life and education
Born in
Detroit , Williams earned a bachelor's degree fromWayne State University in 1970. She earned a master's degree in guidance and counseling from theUniversity of Michigan in 1972 while working as a music and third-grade teacher in inner-city Detroit. Williams then shifted gears and decided to pursue a career in the law instead, earning a law degree from theNotre Dame Law School in 1975.Professional career
After law school, Williams clerked for U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Robert Arthur Sprecher from 1975 until 1976 and then served from 1976 until 1985 as an assistant U.S. attorney in Chicago. In 1979, Williams began serving as an adjunct professor and lecturer at
Northwestern University School of Law and at theJohn Marshall Law School (Chicago) .Federal judicial service
Williams was a U.S. District Judge for the
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois from 1985 until 1999. President Reagan had nominated her onMarch 13 ,1985 to a newly created district court seat, and she was confirmed by theU.S. Senate onApril 3 ,1985 . Her confirmation made her the first-ever African-American female judge appointed to theU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois .On
August 5 ,1999 , President Clinton nominated Williams to a vacancy on the Seventh Circuit that occurred because of the retirement of JudgeWalter J. Cummings, Jr. . Williams was unanimously confirmed by the Senate in a voice vote onNovember 10 ,1999 . Her Senate confirmation made Williams the first-ever African-American judge on the Seventh Circuit.Political views
In an article in the
Chicago Tribune onDecember 11 ,1999 , Williams declined to say whether she is a Republican or a Democrat, instead calling herself politically independent. "I've written on thousands of cases across the board, and I think it would be hard to type me," she said. "I don't think there is a type. I am not in Congress. We don't legislate in the courts."External links
* [http://air.fjc.gov/servlet/tGetInfo?jid=2591 Federal Judicial Center Profile]
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