Booker, Menendez Applaud Confirmation of Karen M. Williams to U.S. District Court

Booker, Menendez Applaud Karen M. Williams’ confirmation in the US District Court for New Jersey

Judge Williams is the first Senate-confirmed African American federal judge to sit in the Camden, New Jersey courthouse

WASHINGTON, DC – Today U.S. Senator Cory Booker (DN.J), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Bob Menendez (DN.J.) applauded Senate confirmation for Karen M. Williams in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

“Judge Williams has a long and respected legal career defending workers’ rights and has a deep understanding of the problems faced by the people of New Jersey,” said Senator Booker. “Judge Williams is excellently qualified to serve on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, and I know she will bring fairness, impartiality, and a commitment to justice to the Federal Bank. This is historic confirmation – she becomes the first Senate-confirmed African American federal judge to sit in federal court in Camden, New Jersey. I am proud of your confirmation today. “

“Judge Karen M. Williams has a prudent and intelligent legal mind, and her unique experience as a human resources professional, litigation attorney, and magistrate judge makes her a great qualification to serve in the New Jersey District Court,” said Senator Menendez. “I’m incredibly proud to be the first Senate-approved African American woman of color to sit with honors in the US District Court in Camden, NJ, New Jersey. I thank President Biden for selecting an outstanding candidate who reflects the values ​​and diversity of the great state of New Jersey. “

Karen M. Williams has served as the US Magistrate Judge at the US District Court in New Jersey since 2009. Judge Williams also currently serves as an associate professor at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey. Prior to her appointment, Judge Williams spent 17 years in private practice with Jasinski & Williams, PC in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Judge Williams’ work has focused on labor law, including litigation in state and federal courts, as well as administrative agencies. Judge Williams received her JD from Temple University’s James E. Beasley School of Law in 1992 and her BS from Pennsylvania State University in 1985.

Earlier this year, the Senate upheld Julien Xavier Neals and Zahid Quraishi in the US District Court for the New Jersey District. Booker made comments in the Senate in support of Neals and Quraishi. And just last week the Senate also confirmed Christine P. O’Hearn in that court. Williams is now the fourth judge to be confirmed in the New Jersey District this year.

Senator Booker has been a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee since 2018. He has been a Senior Senate Representative for Criminal Justice and Police Reform since his first election in 2013. Booker has put forward numerous proposals for criminal justice reform, including: the Marijuana Justice Act, the Fair Chance Act, the CARERS Act, the MERCY Act, the Dignity for Incarcerated Women Act, the Second Look Act, and the Justice in Policing Act. He was also a key architect of the most comprehensive overhaul of the criminal justice system in decades, the First Step Act, which went into effect in 2018.

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