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Williams tapped by Biden for Delaware federal bench

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WILMINGTON – Gregory B. Williams, a partner at the Wilmington office of national firm Fox Rothschild LLP and a former president of the state bar association, has been tapped by President Joe Biden to fill a vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.

Gregory B. Williams | PHOTO COURTEYS OF FOX ROTHCHILD

Williams’ appointment would be an important move in the First State, marking only the second Black judge to sit on that federal court and the only current judge of color. The first Black federal judge in Delaware was Judge Gregory M. Sleet, who served from 1998 to 2018.

Williams joined Fox Rothschild LLP in 1995 as an associate and was elevated to partner in 2003. Prior to that, Williams served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1986 to 1992. During his time practicing in Delaware, he has chaired the state’s Judicial Nominating Commission for Gov. Jack Markell, chaired the U.S. Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel that investigates and interviews candidates for vacant U.S. Magistrate Judge positions, and served as president of the Delaware State Bar Association.

In 2020, a panel of the Delaware District Court selected Williams to serve as a special master to the court, where he aids the court in resolving matters in a cost-effective and efficient manner, such as mitigating disputes, managing discovery and facilitating settlement negotiations, among other responsibilities. He is in the midst of a four-year term on that panel, focusing on complex civil cases in the district.

If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Williams would fill the seat recently left vacant by Judge Leonard Stark, who was promoted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

On Wednesday, U.S. Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.), who had recommended Williams to the White House for the judgeship, heralded the nomination in a joint statement.

“Greg Williams will be an outstanding District Court judge for Delaware, and we are pleased to see an immensely qualified, respected lawyer elevated to this post,” said the senators. “His credentials are impressive, having previously served as president of the Delaware State Bar Association, in addition to an esteemed career as a litigator. Greg also has broad federal court experience, including with intellectual property and corporate law, and serves on the Attorney Advisory Committee for the District Court of Delaware. We applaud President Biden for making this appointment, and keeping his promise to ensure our nation’s courts reflect the diversity of our country. We have confidence that Greg will ably fill the post vacated by Judge Stark and leave his own indelible mark. The people of Delaware and our nation will be well-served with this nomination, and we look forward to a swift hearing and confirmation process.”

Williams received his law degree from Villanova University School of Law in 1995 and two bachelor’s degrees from Millersville University of Pennsylvania in 1990. At Fox Rothschild, he has built a practice focused on commercial, intellectual property and other business litigation. He advises and represents a wide range of corporate clients, including technology companies, manufacturers, financial institutions, energy companies, health care and pharmaceutical companies, retailers, government entities, colleges and universities and faith-based organizations.

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