David W. Williams
Encyclopedia
David W. Williams was an American attorney and judge, the first African American
federal judge west of the Mississippi. He is best known for his work in the abolition of restrictive covenants and for overseeing 4,000 criminal cases that stemmed from the 1965 Watts riots.
from the University of California, Los Angeles
in 1934 and an LL.B. from the University of Southern California Law School
in 1937, and was admitted to the California bar in 1937. He was in private practice in Los Angeles, California
from 1937 to 1955. Williams was a founding member of the John M. Langston Bar Association, a black lawyers' group which was organized in response to the Los Angeles County Bar Association's refusal to admit blacks members.
As a lawyer in the 1940s, he was one of several black attorneys who worked with Thurgood Marshall
, then head of the legal defense arm of the NAACP, to fight the restrictive covenants that barred African-Americans and other minorities from residence in many parts of Los Angeles and many other American cities. The covenants were declared unconstitutional in 1948. Williams himself was able to benefit from this decision by purchasing a lot in one of Los Angeles’ most exclusive areas; however, he negotiated this purchase over the telephone for fear that he would not be able to obtain the land if the seller and neighbors realized he was black.
, Williams volunteered to preside over about 4,000 of the resulting criminal cases. Taking on these difficult cases in an emotionally-changed environment won him the admiration of many colleagues.
A lifelong Republican
, he was nominated to the United States District Court for the Central District of California
in 1969 by President Richard Nixon
. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on June 19, and received his commission on June 20, 1969. He later took senior status in 1981, at the age of 71, but remained an active member of the U.S. district court until his death
Late in his judicial career, Williams took issue with the mandatory sentencing required by California's 1994 "Three Strikes Law
." “Some of us judges,” he is quoted as saying, “feel we are made to be like robots who cannot decide for themselves.” Ironically, in 1989 he became the first judge in California
and the second in the country to impose a mandatory life sentence under a new federal anti-drug law. It was the first time in 35 years as a judge that Williams had ever given a life sentence without possibility of parole.
Judge Williams died from pneumonia
in May, 2000.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
federal judge west of the Mississippi. He is best known for his work in the abolition of restrictive covenants and for overseeing 4,000 criminal cases that stemmed from the 1965 Watts riots.
Early life and career
Williams was born in Atlanta but grew up in Los Angeles. He received an A.B.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
in 1934 and an LL.B. from the University of Southern California Law School
University of Southern California Law School
The University of Southern California Law School , located in Los Angeles, California, is a law school within the University of Southern California...
in 1937, and was admitted to the California bar in 1937. He was in private practice in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
from 1937 to 1955. Williams was a founding member of the John M. Langston Bar Association, a black lawyers' group which was organized in response to the Los Angeles County Bar Association's refusal to admit blacks members.
As a lawyer in the 1940s, he was one of several black attorneys who worked with Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, serving from October 1967 until October 1991...
, then head of the legal defense arm of the NAACP, to fight the restrictive covenants that barred African-Americans and other minorities from residence in many parts of Los Angeles and many other American cities. The covenants were declared unconstitutional in 1948. Williams himself was able to benefit from this decision by purchasing a lot in one of Los Angeles’ most exclusive areas; however, he negotiated this purchase over the telephone for fear that he would not be able to obtain the land if the seller and neighbors realized he was black.
Career as a Judge
Williams was appointed to the Los Angeles Municipal Court from 1956, and served there until 1962. He was a judge on the Los Angeles Superior Court from 1962 to 1969. As a judge, Williams developed a reputation as a tough sentencer. Following the 1965 Watts riotsWatts Riots
The Watts Riots or the Watts Rebellion was a civil disturbance in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, California from August 11 to August 15, 1965. The 5-day riot resulted in 34 deaths, 1,032 injuries, and 3,438 arrests...
, Williams volunteered to preside over about 4,000 of the resulting criminal cases. Taking on these difficult cases in an emotionally-changed environment won him the admiration of many colleagues.
A lifelong Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, he was nominated to the United States District Court for the Central District of California
United States District Court for the Central District of California
The United States District Court for the Central District of California serves over 18 million people in southern and central California, making it the largest federal judicial district by population...
in 1969 by President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on June 19, and received his commission on June 20, 1969. He later took senior status in 1981, at the age of 71, but remained an active member of the U.S. district court until his death
Late in his judicial career, Williams took issue with the mandatory sentencing required by California's 1994 "Three Strikes Law
Three strikes law
Three strikes laws)"are statutes enacted by state governments in the United States which require the state courts to hand down a mandatory and extended period of incarceration to persons who have been convicted of a serious criminal offense on three or more separate occasions. These statutes became...
." “Some of us judges,” he is quoted as saying, “feel we are made to be like robots who cannot decide for themselves.” Ironically, in 1989 he became the first judge in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and the second in the country to impose a mandatory life sentence under a new federal anti-drug law. It was the first time in 35 years as a judge that Williams had ever given a life sentence without possibility of parole.
Judge Williams died from pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
in May, 2000.