Amanda Williams
Encyclopedia
Amanda Williams is a Superior Court judge on the Brunswick Circuit in Georgia. Her treatment of defendants in drug court was the subject of a March 25, 2011, episode of This American Life
.
from the University of Georgia
and a Juris Doctorate from John Marshall Law School
in Atlanta, Georgia. She was admitted to the bar in 1977.
broadcast an episode about various cases heard in Williams' drug court
. The show described how Williams' judgments violated the philosophy of drug courts by using indefinite jail terms and an overly punitive approach. This resulted in unfavorable reaction from other legal professionals, calls for her resignation or impeachment, and death threats.
Criticism of Williams following the show included claims that at times she imposed indefinite stays in jail and other excessively punitive sentences contrary to principles supported by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. The Association supports the principle that "drug courts are designed to reduce drug use, reduce crime, repair families, hold addicts accountable and restore them to meaningful roles in society."
After the story aired, Williams' attorney published an open letter to This American Life executive producer Ira Glass, claiming that the story was "riddled with falsehoods," and "libel masquerading as journalism." Glass responded a week later, correcting website errors that he was informed of. Glass stood by the story's details, especially his characterization of defendants receiving inappropriately harsh treatment in Williams' courtroom. Williams defended her approach explaining, "there's some addiction in my family. My husband has been in recovery for over 15 years. And about the time I started looking to start a drug court about 1996, he had gotten into recovery. So we’ve lived it as a family. Because all the family members are touched by it."
This American Life
This American Life is a weekly hour-long radio program produced by WBEZ and hosted by Ira Glass. It is distributed by Public Radio International on PRI affiliate stations and is also available as a free weekly podcast. Primarily a journalistic non-fiction program, it has also featured essays,...
.
Early life and education
Williams graduated with a Bachelor of Fine ArtsBachelor of Fine Arts
In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...
from the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
and a Juris Doctorate from John Marshall Law School
John Marshall Law School (Atlanta)
Atlanta's John Marshall Law School is a private, for-profit law school in Atlanta, Georgia, which was founded in 1933 and is fully accredited by the American Bar Association...
in Atlanta, Georgia. She was admitted to the bar in 1977.
Early legal career
Prior to being elected a judge, Williams was a law clerk for Superior Court Judge William R. Killian in 1978–79, an assistant district attorney for Brunswick Judicial Circuit in 1979-80, and a practicing attorney in Glynn County in 1980-90.Superior court judge
Williams was elected a Superior Court judge in 1990, taking the bench in 1991. In November 2010 Williams competed against Mary Helen Moses in her most recent bid for re-election. Williams won with 66.2% of the vote.This American Life story
In March 2011, the radio program This American LifeThis American Life
This American Life is a weekly hour-long radio program produced by WBEZ and hosted by Ira Glass. It is distributed by Public Radio International on PRI affiliate stations and is also available as a free weekly podcast. Primarily a journalistic non-fiction program, it has also featured essays,...
broadcast an episode about various cases heard in Williams' drug court
Drug court
Drug Courts are judicially supervised court dockets that handle the cases of nonviolent substance abusing offenders under the adult, juvenile, family and tribal justice systems...
. The show described how Williams' judgments violated the philosophy of drug courts by using indefinite jail terms and an overly punitive approach. This resulted in unfavorable reaction from other legal professionals, calls for her resignation or impeachment, and death threats.
Criticism of Williams following the show included claims that at times she imposed indefinite stays in jail and other excessively punitive sentences contrary to principles supported by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. The Association supports the principle that "drug courts are designed to reduce drug use, reduce crime, repair families, hold addicts accountable and restore them to meaningful roles in society."
After the story aired, Williams' attorney published an open letter to This American Life executive producer Ira Glass, claiming that the story was "riddled with falsehoods," and "libel masquerading as journalism." Glass responded a week later, correcting website errors that he was informed of. Glass stood by the story's details, especially his characterization of defendants receiving inappropriately harsh treatment in Williams' courtroom. Williams defended her approach explaining, "there's some addiction in my family. My husband has been in recovery for over 15 years. And about the time I started looking to start a drug court about 1996, he had gotten into recovery. So we’ve lived it as a family. Because all the family members are touched by it."