Zuberi Williams facts for kids

Zuberi Bakari Williams was born on December 1, 1978. He is an American lawyer and judge. He serves as an associate judge for the District Court of Maryland in Montgomery County.

Former Governor Martin O'Malley chose him for this role in December 2014. The Maryland Senate then approved his appointment. He officially became a judge on January 6, 2015. At 36 years old, Judge Williams was one of the youngest judges ever appointed in Maryland.

Early Life and School Days

Zuberi Bakari Williams was born in Washington, D.C.. His father grew up in Chicago, Illinois. His mother came to the United States from Guyana. His parents lived in Southern Maryland for 38 years. He also has two sisters.

Both of Williams' parents were public school teachers. His mother taught Spanish, French, and German. She taught at Matthew Henson Middle School. His father, Richard Williams, taught computer science and math. He taught at La Plata High School.

His father was also a very successful coach. He coached track, cross country, and women's basketball. He won many awards for coaching cross country. His teams won 13 conference and 22 regional championships. His women's basketball team had a 44-game winning streak. Judge Williams was coached by his father in several sports. He also coached him for the Computer Bowl team.

High School Years

Williams went to La Plata High School in La Plata, Maryland. He played four sports there: cross-country, track and field, and wrestling. He was also elected class president.

He was chosen to be a "page" at the Maryland General Assembly. This means he helped State Senator Thomas V. Miller Jr. at the state government. In his junior year, Williams won a contest called Black History Makers of Tomorrow. His essay was about wanting to practice civil rights law. This award helped him get money for college.

College and Law School

Williams attended Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas. He received a scholarship to study there. He earned a degree in business administration and marketing.

At TCU, he was active in student government. He also interned with the university's athletic department. He studied Spanish culture and language. He even lived with a family in Guadalajara, Mexico to learn more. Williams was a good speaker and traveled to give speeches for his university. He also played on TCU's Ultimate Frisbee team.

In 2000, Williams started at Washington College of Law. He studied for two degrees at once: a law degree (JD) and a business degree (MBA). He worked for the Administrative Law Review. He also helped people as a student attorney. He was part of the Black Law Students Association. In his final year, he won an award for his work in the law clinic. His classmates chose him to give the graduation speech in 2003. In 2005, he earned his MBA from American University.

Career in Law

Starting His Legal Journey

After law school, Williams worked for Robert M. Bell. Judge Bell was the Chief Judge of Maryland's highest court. He was also the first African-American Chief Judge in Maryland history.

In 2004, Williams joined a law firm called Venable LLP. He worked on cases involving financial crimes. In 2005, he worked for a federal judge, Gerald Bruce Lee. Judge Lee had two clerks that year. One was Judge Williams. The other was Justin Fairfax, who later became Lieutenant Governor of Virginia.

In 2007, Williams became an assistant Attorney General for the District of Columbia. He handled cases about unfair treatment at work, personal injuries, and other legal issues. He worked in both federal and state courts.

Administrative Law Judge

In 2010, Judge Williams was appointed as an administrative law judge. He worked for the Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings. In this role, he oversaw many different types of cases.

District Court Judge

On December 30, 2014, Governor Martin O'Malley appointed Williams to the District Court in Montgomery County, Maryland. At 36 years old, he became one of the youngest judges ever appointed in Maryland. The Maryland State Senate approved his appointment. He was sworn in on January 6, 2015.

In 2016, he became the head of the District Court's Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program. This program helps people solve problems without going to court. He also helped with the Justice Reinvestment Act. This law aimed to improve the criminal justice system in Maryland.

In 2017, Williams joined the Judicial Compensation Committee. In 2019, he was also appointed to the Equal Justice Committee.

Personal Life

Judge Williams lives in Montgomery County, Maryland with his wife and children. He has lived there for 19 years.

He often speaks about fairness in the justice system. He also talks about making the legal profession more diverse. He believes judges can lead the way in encouraging diversity and inclusion. He has given speeches at many conferences. He also spoke at the White House in 2016. His talk was about how judges can help people succeed after leaving prison. In 2017, he was a speaker for a Google presentation.

Awards and Recognition

• In 2019, Williams was named a top leader in law in Maryland. This award recognizes legal professionals who are dedicated to their work and communities.
• In 2018, Williams was named to the Maryland Daily Record's VIP List. This list honors successful leaders under 40 in Maryland.
• In 2018, the National Bar Association named Williams one of the "40 Under 40 Nation's Best Advocates." This award recognizes top lawyers under 40 for their achievements in law and community involvement.
• In 2017, Williams was named a "Top 40 Under 40 Emerging Leader" in the Washington area. He was the first judge to win this award.
• In 2016, the ABA's Section on Litigation recognized him for his work in the Judicial Internship Opportunity Program.
• In 2015, Williams received the North Star Award.
• In 2008, Williams received the Extra Mile Attorney Award.
• In 2005, Williams received the Hariston Alumni Award.