
Attorney James M. Williams was appointed by order of the Louisiana Supreme Court to serve as judge pro tempore of Orleans Parish Civil District Court, Section 7, according to Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Bernette J. Johnson. Williams began serving on the court on October 12, 2009, and will continue to March 30, 2010, or until the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Nadine M. Ramsey is filled by election, whichever comes sooner.

Williams was officially sworn in by Justice Johnson at a ceremony held at the Louisiana Supreme Court on December 18.
As a partner in the law firm of Gauthier, Houghtaling & Williams, Metairie, he practiced in the area of civil litigation with a concentration on catastrophic personal injury and business litigation.
Williams earned an undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University in 1995 and a Juris Doctorate degree from Washington & Lee University School of Law in 1998. While a law student, he was editor-in-chief of the Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice and was selected as a Burk's scholar for academic excellence and aptitude for advocacy.
In addition, he worked with U.S. Supreme Court James Williams Justice Clarence Thomas to publish a scholarly article titled "Civility"
Following law school, Williams served as a law clerk for Justice Johnson.
While practicing law, he also served as an adjunct professor at Tulane University, where he taught "Legal Aspects of Sports." He is a past president of the Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Legal Society Inc. and serves on the boards for the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce and the New Orleans Bar Association.