American judge (1951–2013)
Karen J. Williams
Williams in 2008
In office July 8, 2009 – November 2, 2013In office July 1, 2007 – July 8, 2009Preceded by William Walter Wilkins Succeeded by William Byrd Traxler Jr. In office March 2, 1992 – July 8, 2009Appointed by George H. W. Bush Preceded by Robert F. Chapman Succeeded by Henry F. Floyd
Born (1951-08-04 ) August 4, 1951Orangeburg , South Carolina Died November 2, 2013(2013-11-02) (aged 62)Orangeburg , South Carolina Education Columbia College (BA )University of South Carolina School of Law (JD )
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]
Education and career
Born 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
Williams's court portrait.
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
Williams 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
References
^ 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