{{short description|American judge}} {{Multiple issues|section=|{{Resume-like|date=August 2018}}{{BLP sources|date=April 2021}}{{COI|date=April 2021}} }} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Zuberi Williams | office = Associate Judge of the Maryland District Court | image = | incumbent = | nominator = Martin O'Malley | predecessor = Karla N. Smith | term_start = {{Start date|2015|01|06}} | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|12|1}} | birth_place = Washington, D.C., U.S. | education = Texas Christian University (BBA)<br>American University (JD, MBA) }}
'''Zuberi Bakari Williams''' (born December 1, 1978) is an American attorney and jurist serving as an associate judge of the District Court of Maryland, for Montgomery County.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/32dc/html/msa17096.html|title=Maryland Manual Online: A Guide To Maryland And Its Government|website=msa.maryland.gov|access-date=2016-07-19}}</ref> He was appointed by former Governor Martin O'Malley in December 2014.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/md-gov-omalley-appoints-10-district-circuit-court-judges/2014/12/30/b41c6bb2-9054-11e4-ba53-a477d66580ed_story.html|title=Md. Gov. O'Malley Appoints 10 District, Circuit Court Judges|last=Bui|first=Lynh|date=December 30, 2014|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2016-07-19}}</ref> He was later confirmed by the Maryland Senate and sworn in on January 6, 2015.<ref name=":0" /> At the age of 36, Williams became one of the youngest judges to be appointed in Maryland history.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.americanbar.org/groups/litigation/committees/jiop/news_analysis/articles/winter2016-0316-jiop-alumni-spotlight-honorable-zuberi-bakari-williams-02.html|title=ABA Section on Litigation JIOP Alumni Spotlight: The Honorable Zuberi Bakari Williams|last=Clay|first=Aaron|date=March 8, 2016|website=American Bar Association (ABA)|access-date=2016-07-19}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Zuberi Bakari Williams was born at Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC. Williams's father was raised in inner city Chicago, Illinois, and his mother immigrated to the United States from Guyana.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}} His parents, both public school teachers, settled in Southern Maryland, where they lived for 38 years. He has two sisters.<ref name="McClellan">{{Cite news|last=McClellan|first=Clare|date=September 24, 1997|title=TCU's Zu: Student's Involvement Helps Him To Represent the University|work=TCU Daily Skiff|url=|access-date=}}</ref>
Williams attended La Plata High School in La Plata, Maryland. There, he lettered in four sports: Cross-Country, Track and Field (indoor and outdoor), and wrestling.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}} He also was elected class president. Williams was selected by the Charles County Board of Education to page at the Maryland General Assembly. He served as a page for State Senator Thomas Mike Miller.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., Maryland Senate President Emeritus|url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/05sen/former/html/msa01619.html|access-date=2021-01-15|website=msa.maryland.gov}}</ref> During his junior year, Williams' essay won the McDonald's ''Black History Makers of Tomorrow'' contest for the Washington metropolitan area. His piece on his desire to practice civil rights law earned him college scholarship money and stock in both McDonald's and Coca-Cola.<ref name="Erickson2">{{Cite web|last=Erickson|first=Andrew|date=November 2019|title=10,000 HOURS: APPROACHING THE BENCH|url=https://www.american.edu/magazine/10-000-hours-approaching-the-bench.cfm|website=American University Magazine}}</ref>
Williams attended Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas, on an academic scholarship and diversity grant.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|title=Maryland Manual Online: A Guide To Maryland And Its Government|url=http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/32dc/html/msa17096.html|access-date=2016-07-19|website=msa.maryland.gov}}</ref> While at TCU, Williams earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and marketing degree from Neeley School of Business.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bloomberg Businessweek Rankings - TCU - The Neeley School of Business|url=http://neeley.tcu.edu/News_and_Events/Neeley_Publications/eNews/April_12/Bloomberg_Businessweek_Rankings.aspx|access-date=2016-07-19|website=neeley.tcu.edu|archive-date=2016-09-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911130204/http://neeley.tcu.edu/News_and_Events/Neeley_Publications/eNews/April_12/Bloomberg_Businessweek_Rankings.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=McCellan|first=Claire|date=September 24, 1997|title=TCU's Zu: Student's Involvement Helps Him To Represent the University|work=TCU Daily Skiff|url=|access-date=}}</ref> On campus, Williams served on the Student Government Association as parliamentarian, participated in the Black Student Caucus and the TCU Student Foundation, and interned for TCU's athletic department.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}} He received a minor in Spanish culture and language from TCU, for which he briefly lived with a family in Guadalajara, Mexico to study Spanish and Latin dance. Williams was a speaker during college, giving speeches on behalf of his alma mater.<ref name="McClellan"/> Williams was also an avid ultimate frisbee player and was a member of TCU's Ultimate Frisbee travel team.<ref>{{Citation|title=Frog 4 Life Podcast: Judge Zuberi Williams|url=https://www.facebook.com/TCUAlumniWorldwide/videos/frog-4-life-podcast-judge-zuberi-williams/1769526366546709/|language=en|access-date=2021-01-17}}</ref>
In 2000, Williams began attending Washington College of Law for the joint JD/MBA program. Williams worked for the ''Administrative Law Review'' and a student attorney with the Glushko-Samuelson Intellectual Property Law Clinic.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Phillips|first=Victoria|date=2015-01-14|title=IP Clinic Alum Zu Williams Appointed to Bench in Maryland|url=https://ipclinic.org/2015/01/14/clinic-alum-zu-williams-appointed-to-bench-in-maryland/|access-date=2016-07-23|website=WCL Glushko-Samuelson Intellectual Property Law Clinic}}</ref> He also was a member of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) and Business Law Society. During his final year, Williams won the Edward J. Walker Clinical Scholarship Award. He was also appointed to the Admissions Selection Committee.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|title=WCL Alumni Spotlight - Zuberi Williams|url=https://www.wcl.american.edu/alumni/spotlight/05williams.cfm|access-date=2016-07-19|website=American University's Washington College of Law}}</ref> Williams was elected by his peers to deliver the 2003 WCL Commencement Address.<ref name=":12" /> Williams was named to the WCL Dean's Diversity Council. In 2005, Williams earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from American University's Kogod School of Business.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ballotpedia - Zuberi Bakari Williams|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Zuberi_Bakari_Williams|access-date=2016-07-23}}</ref>
== Career ==
=== Early career === After law school, Williams worked a clerkship with Robert M. Bell, Chief Judge of Maryland's highest court, Maryland Court of Appeals, and the first African-American Chief Judge in Maryland history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mymcmedia.org/gov-omalley-appoints-ten-judges/|title=Governor O'Malley Appoints Ten Judges|last=Burke|first=Sonya|date=2014-12-30|website=My Montgomery County Media|language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-22|archive-date=2016-07-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160725030016/http://www.mymcmedia.org/gov-omalley-appoints-ten-judges/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2004, Williams joined Venable LLP, where he was a member of the White Collar Crime practice group.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.venable.com/venable-ranked-among-top-20-law-firms-in-dc-by-national-law-journal-08-03-2015/|title=Venable ranked among top 20 law firms in DC by National Law Journal|date=August 3, 2015|website=www.venable.com|access-date=2016-07-22}}</ref> In 2005, Williams pursued a federal clerkship with United States District Court Judge Gerald Bruce Lee at the Eastern District of Virginia (Alexandria). Judge Lee had 2 clerks in his chambers that term: (1) Judge Williams, who reached the bench at age 36<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/federal-judge-who-worked-to-increase-diversity-in-legal-profession-set-to-retire/2017/05/03/6b2e3554-2538-11e7-a1b3-faff0034e2de_story.html|title=Federal judge who worked to increase diversity in legal profession set to retire|last=Weiner|first=Rachel|date=May 4, 2017|newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref> and (2) Justin Fairfax, who was elected Lieutenant Governor of Virginia in 2017 at the age of 38.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/virginia-lt-gov-attorney-general-races-remain-close-with-most-votes-counted/2017/11/07/3424f378-c316-11e7-84bc-5e285c7f4512_story.html|title=Democrats Fairfax, Herring win Virginia lieutenant governor, attorney general races|last=Sullivan|first=Patricia|date=November 7, 2017|newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref>
In 2007, Williams was sworn in as an assistant Attorney General for the District of Columbia, where he tried cases involving employment discrimination, personal injury, false arrest, police assault, inmate assaults, and whistleblower claims in both federal and state courts.<ref name=":2" />
=== Administrative law judge === In 2010, Judge Williams was appointed as an administrative law judge in the Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings. There, he presided over hundreds of cases including those concerning DUIs, child abuse and neglect, conditional release, involuntary admission to mental facilities, and wrongful employment termination.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=February 2015|title=Judicial Appointments|url=http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.barmont.org/resource/resmgr/Newsletters/COMPLETE-February15.pdf|journal=The Bar Association of Montgomery County Newsletter}}</ref>
=== District court judge === On December 30, 2014, Governor Martin O'Malley announced the appointment of Williams to the District Court in Montgomery County, Maryland.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/md-gov-omalley-appoints-10-district-circuit-court-judges/2014/12/30/b41c6bb2-9054-11e4-ba53-a477d66580ed_story.html|title=Md. Gov. O'Malley appoints 10 district, circuit court judges|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2016-07-21}}</ref> At the age of 36, Williams became one of the youngest judges to be appointed in Maryland history.<ref name=":2" /> He was later confirmed by the Maryland State Senate and sworn in on January 6, 2015.<ref name=":0" />
In 2016, he was appointed as chair of the District Court Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.law.umaryland.edu/about/news_details.html?news=1732|title=C-DRUM Hosts Maryland Judiciary Alternative Dispute Resolution Research Symposium|access-date=2016-07-22|archive-date=2016-09-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914183546/https://www.law.umaryland.edu/about/news_details.html?news=1732|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was also invited to be a contributing participant in the Maryland General Assembly legislative initiative called the Justice Reinvestment Act, legislation addressing criminal justice reform in Maryland history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://goccp.maryland.gov/jrcc/index.php|title=Governor's Office of Crime Control & Prevention in Maryland|website=goccp.maryland.gov|access-date=2016-07-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-justice-reinvestment-20160518-story.html|title=Hogan signs bill to overhaul Maryland criminal justice system|last=Dresser|first=Michael|date=May 19, 2016|website=Baltimore Sun|access-date=2016-07-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wtop.com/maryland/2016/04/a-look-at-key-provisions-in-justice-reinvestment-act/|title=A look at key provisions in Justice Reinvestment Act|last=Associated Press|date=2016-04-12|website=WTOP|language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-23|archive-date=2016-08-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816202529/http://wtop.com/maryland/2016/04/a-look-at-key-provisions-in-justice-reinvestment-act/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2017, Williams was appointed to the Judicial Compensation Committee. In 2019, Williams was also appointed to the Equal Justice Committee.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}
==Personal life== Williams lives with his wife and children in Montgomery County, Maryland. He has lived there for 19 years.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}
Williams often speaks on issues related to bias in the justice system and increasing diversity in the legal profession.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dean's Diversity Council Program and Dinner Gives Inside Look at Careers in the Judicial Sector|url=https://news.wcl.american.edu/more-news/dean-s-diversity-council-program-and-dinner-gives-inside-look-at-careers-in-the-judicial-sector/|access-date=2016-07-22|website=WCL|archive-date=2016-08-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815074547/https://news.wcl.american.edu/more-news/dean-s-diversity-council-program-and-dinner-gives-inside-look-at-careers-in-the-judicial-sector/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He believes that judges are poised to be leaders in the judicial system and that they are the ones that can tackle the issues and set the path for encouraging diversity and inclusion at all levels. He has given keynote speeches at multiple conferences, such as the National HBCU Pre-Law Summit & Law Expo<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kyaw|first=Arrman|date=September 18, 2020|title=7th Annual National HBCU Pre-Law Summit and Law Expo Begins Virtually Sep. 24|work=Diverse: Issues In Higher Education|url=https://diverseeducation.com/article/190694/|access-date=January 17, 2021}}</ref> and the National Black Pre-Law Conference and Law Fair.<ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=December 22, 2020|title=National Black Pre-Law Conference Pivoted to Virtual Format and Tripled Attendance Reaching Thousands More Aspiring Black Lawyers|work=FOX 40 (Binghamton, NY)|url=https://www.wicz.com/story/43093641/national-black-pre-law-conference-pivoted-to-virtual-format-and-tripled-attendance-reaching-thousands-more-aspiring-black-lawyers|access-date=January 17, 2021|archive-date=January 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122015421/https://www.wicz.com/story/43093641/national-black-pre-law-conference-pivoted-to-virtual-format-and-tripled-attendance-reaching-thousands-more-aspiring-black-lawyers|url-status=dead}}</ref> He has also been a panelist for events like the Microsoft Criminal Justice Reform Town Hall and the National Bar Association, Women Lawyer's Division, Greater Washington Area Chapter (GWAC). In 2016, Williams spoke at the White House regarding the role of judges in setting up returning citizens for success after incarceration. In 2017, he served as a panelist for Google's ''Data, Justice, & Reentry Workforce Opportunities'' presentation.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}
== Awards == *In 2019, Williams was named a top leader in law in the state of Maryland.<ref name="The Maryland Daily Record">{{Cite web|url=https://thedailyrecord.com/2019/05/20/the-hon-zuberi-bakari-williams/|title=The Maryland Daily Record|date=20 May 2019 }}</ref> *In 2018, Williams was named as the Maryland Daily Record's VIP List of Most successful by 40.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thedailyrecord.com/2018/07/10/the-daily-record-announces-2018-vip-list/|title=The Daily Record announces 2018 VIP List|website=Maryland Daily Record|date=11 July 2018 }}</ref> *In 2018, Williams was named as the National Bar Association's 40 Under 40 Nation's Best Advocates.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mailchi.mp/nationalbar.org/2018-national-bar-association-40-under-40-award-recipients-announced|title=2018 National Bar Association "40 Under 40" Award Recipients Announced|last=Pittman|first=Nick|date=June 8, 2018}}</ref> *In 2017, Williams was named Top 40 Under 40 Emerging Leader in the Washington Metropolitan area by The Leadership Center for Excellence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.insidenova.com/news/arlington/under-celebration-lauds-engaged-young-professionals/article_1ace870e-dab8-11e7-b090-67aab39c8550.html|title='40 Under 40' celebration lauds engaged young professionals|date=December 7, 2017|website=Inside NOVA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://leadercenter.org/40-under-40/|title=Leadership Center For Excellence's Top 40 Under 40 (2017)|website=Leadership Center For Excellence|date=5 January 2022 }}</ref> He became the first Judge to win the award.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://issuu.com/leesburgtoday/docs/40u40_2017|title=Sun Gazette 40 Under 40 (2017)|work=Sun Gazette}}</ref> *In 2016, Williams was spotlighted by the ABA's Section on Litigation for his participation in Judicial Internship Opportunity Program (JIOP).<ref name=":2" /> *In 2015, Williams received the North Star Award from the Sylvania Woods African Americans in the Law Conference.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.wcl.american.edu/founders-2015/19th-annual-sylvania-woods-conference-celebrates-african-americans-in-law/|title=19th Annual Sylvania Woods Conference Celebrates African Americans in Law|date=15 April 2015|access-date=2016-07-23|archive-date=2016-08-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815081235/https://news.wcl.american.edu/founders-2015/19th-annual-sylvania-woods-conference-celebrates-african-americans-in-law/|url-status=dead}}</ref> *In 2008, Williams received the District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General's (OAG) Extra Mile Attorney Award.{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}} *In 2005, Williams received the Hariston Alumni Award by the Sylvania Woods African Americans in the Law Conference.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Zuberi}} Category:1978 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American judges Category:American legal scholars Category:African-American judges Category:Kogod School of Business alumni Category:American University Washington College of Law alumni Category:Texas Christian University alumni Category:21st-century African-American lawyers Category:20th-century African-American lawyers Category:Maryland lawyers