James R. Williams (lawyer)
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James R. Williams | |
|---|---|
| Municipal Court | |
| In office 1983–1989 | |
| Court of Common Pleas | |
| In office 1989–2003 | |
| Preceded by | John Reece |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1936 |
| Died | November 6, 2020 (aged 83–84) Akron, Ohio, US |
| Resting place | Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery |
| Alma mater | University of Akron |
| Occupation | Lawyer and judge |
James R. Williams (1936 – November 6, 2020) was a U.S. lawyer, jurist, Civil Rights leader, and politician. He was named one of the 100 most influential Black Americans by Ebony magazine.
James R. Williams was born in Columbus, Mississippi in 1936.[1] Following his service in the United States Army, he moved to Ohio.[2]
He attended the University of Akron, graduating with a BA in education in 1960.[2] While in college, he was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.[1]
He received his Juris Doctor degree from University of Akron in 1966.[2]
Career
After college, William taught for the Akron Public Schools.[2] He was then a senior staff member with the city's department of planning and urban development.[2] After graduating from law school, he was a lawyer with offices in Cleveland, Ohio.[3]
Williams was elected to the City Council of Akron, Ohio.[2] In this capacity, he supported gun control.[1] In 1974, he was the Democratic Party candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio.[1]
In 1978, President Jimmy Carter appointed him as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.[2] He unsuccessfully ran for the 9th District Court of Appeals in 1982.[3] In 1983, he became a judge in the Akron Municipal Court.[1][2] In 1989, he was elected to the Summit County's court of common pleas.[2] He was the first Black judge of the county's court of common pleas and served for fifteen years, retiring in 2005.[2]