HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2017-035 Resolution Honoring Judicial District 15B (Orange/Chatham) Public Defender James E. Williams, Jr. RES-2017-035
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION HONORING JUDICIAL DISTRICT 15B (ORANGE/CHATHAM)
PUBLIC DEFENDER JAMES E. WILLIAMS, JR.
WHEREAS, James E. Williams, Jr. served as the Public Defender of North Carolina
Judicial District 15B, serving Orange and Chatham counties for 27 years; and
WHEREAS, during his tenure, Mr. Williams led the development of innovative efforts to
make the criminal justice system more equitable, including the Misdemeanor Diversion
Program, the Public Defender Committee on Race and Equity, the Criminal Justice
Resource Office, the NC Commission on Racial and Ethnic Disparities and the District 15B
Racial Justice Taskforce; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Williams consistently challenged racial and socioeconomic disparities in
the criminal justice system in North Carolina, including racial bias in policing, unfair public
housing admission provisions, high court costs and fees for indigent clients, inequitable pre-
trial release and bail policies, institutional barriers to re-entry for formerly incarcerated
persons, and police practices that target low-level crimes; and
WHEREAS, James dedicated his career to working with other lawyers, judges, law
enforcement officers, elected officials, and the community to address those disparities
through efforts to bring transparency to policing decisions and judicial practices, promote
body worn cameras for law enforcement officers and policies regarding broader access to
police videos, and by leading public education initiatives and engaged community dialogue
around racial bias in the criminal justice system; and
WHEREAS, James undertook these efforts while also tirelessly and zealously representing
his clients, including defendants in some of the most high-profile and controversial cases in
our community, all of which were resolved without death penalty verdicts and in ways that
helped the community begin to heal; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Williams is a fearless advocate who cares deeply about the indigent clients
that the Office of the Public Defender represents, and is dedicated to investigating every
fact, developing compelling mitigation, retaining high-quality experts and filing every
motion so that his clients receive the highest quality legal representation, as well as
providing guidance, inspiration, and mentorship to those around him;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners
does hereby extend to James E. Williams, Jr., our sincere and steadfast appreciation for his
dedicated service to the Office of the Public Defender and to the residents of Orange
County, for helping our community be a more just and equitable place, and for embodying
the words of Thurgood Marshall, who said "You do what you think is right, and let the law
catch up".
This the 6th day of June, 2017.
Mark Dorosin, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners