Ballotpedia, Staci Williams

Staci holds a bachelor's degree from Smith College and a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. 

Staci previously worked as a trial attorney and an administrative judge for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, counsel to the United States Senate Judiciary Committee, and as an attorney in private practice. She also worked as corporate counsel in the defense, telecommunications, and retail industries.

Staci Williams currently serves as a state district court judge in District 101. She was elected to this position in 2014 and is serving her third term. She previously served as a municipal court judge in the City of Dallas. 

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As a District Court Judge, presided over civil, criminal, family, and juvenile cases.

As a District Court Judge for 10 years, Williams oversees all felony, probate, and civil cases, rules in all civil actions against the state seeking financial payment, authorizes naturalization and divorce proceedings, and exercises authority to review and correct the rulings of lower courts and presided over civil, criminal, family, and juvenile cases.

Worked in private practice handling employment, commercial, business, personal injury, and criminal matters.

As a private practice attorney, Williams researched, drafted, and filed legal documents, and provided defense and counsel to clients, specializing in employment, commercial, business, personal injury, and criminal matters.

Served as a municipal judge for the city of Dallas.

As a municipal court judge for the City of Dallas, Williams oversaw cases involving traffic offenses and local ordinance violations, conducted preliminary hearings in criminal cases, issued search and arrest warrants, and determined sentencing in certain minor criminal cases. 

Served as a trial attorney and administrative judge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Served as counsel for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.

- As a District Court Judge for 10 years, Williams oversees all felony, probate, and civil cases, rules in all civil actions against the state seeking financial payment, authorizes naturalization and divorce proceedings, and exercises authority to review and correct the rulings of lower courts and presided over civil, criminal, family, and juvenile cases.
- As a private practice attorney, Williams researched, drafted, and filed legal documents, and provided defense and counsel to clients, specializing in employment, commercial, business, personal injury, and criminal matters.
- As a municipal court judge for the City of Dallas, Williams oversaw cases involving traffic offenses and local ordinance violations, conducted preliminary hearings in criminal cases, issued search and arrest warrants, and determined sentencing in certain minor criminal cases. 
- Served as a trial attorney and administrative judge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
- Served as counsel for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.

Legal Experience

Believes new leadership is needed to address the Fifth District Court of Appeals' backlog, particularly in criminal cases.

Believes new leadership is needed to address a "backlog, particularly in criminal cases" in the Fifth District Court of Appeals. 

Said, "Denise Garcia can’t even handle the job she has, according to the statistics from the Office of Court Administration."

Believes the Fifth District Court of Appeals is "the worst-performing appeals court in Texas" for criminal appeals and is "happy with the status quo."

Believes the Fifth District Court of Appeals is "the worst-performing appeals court in Texas..."

Supports educating citizens about the civil court system to encourage jury participation.

As a Judge, Williams established the Citizens’ Civil Academy, which aims to educate County residents about the civil court system. 

Promises to make decisions that "always reflect the law" and to enhance court transparency.

Plans to improve "the judicial process with fairness and efficiency."

Said "My focus will always be on the people of the District,"

- Believes new leadership is needed to address a "backlog, particularly in criminal cases" in the Fifth District Court of Appeals. 
- Said, "Denise Garcia can’t even handle the job she has, according to the statistics from the Office of Court Administration."
- Believes the Fifth District Court of Appeals is "the worst-performing appeals court in Texas..."
- As a Judge, Williams established the Citizens’ Civil Academy, which aims to educate County residents about the civil court system. 
- Promises to make decisions that "always reflect the law" and to enhance court transparency.
- Plans to improve "the judicial process with fairness and efficiency."
- Said "My focus will always be on the people of the District,"

Judicial Administration

Believes that as people become more enlightened, they are more likely to participate in government, such as jury service.

Believes that "The more enlightened people become, then they’re more likely to want to participate in the government, as in jury service."

Believes the judicial bench is crucial for safeguarding Texas residents from "radical policies" pushed by "a very wealthy few."

Believes the judicial bench is crucial for safeguarding  state residents from "radical policies advanced by a very wealthy few."

- Believes that "The more enlightened people become, then they’re more likely to want to participate in the government, as in jury service."
- Believes the judicial bench is crucial for safeguarding  state residents from "radical policies advanced by a very wealthy few."

Judicial Philosophy

Believes his opponent's campaign is "misleading beyond belief" for using a quote from an editorial endorsing him to suggest she earned the endorsement of The Dallas Morning News.

Believes his opponent's, Brandi Voss' campaign is "misleading beyond belief" for using a quote from an editorial endorsing him to suggest she earned the endorsement of The Dallas Morning News.

Said, "As a judge, I do not believe it is appropriate to seek support from groups where a large portion of the members and financial supporters are lawyers who may end up appearing in my court."

Believes in maintaining ethical conduct by refraining from spreading "misleading and false information," especially at Democratic Party club endorsement meetings.

Said, "I call upon my opponent [Voss] to stop distributing misleading and false information, particularly at Democratic Party club endorsement meetings,”

Said, "the only people who benefit if Denise Garcia is elected Chief Justice are her political consultants and Governor Abbott because he gets to appoint someone to her position if she wins."

Said, "All of the candidates put up for this court, and who have ever won a seat on this court as Democrats are clients of ONE POLITICAL CONSULTANT, who believes he owns the Fifth District Court of Appeals and uses the same as his personal political playground."

- Believes his opponent's, Brandi Voss' campaign is "misleading beyond belief" for using a quote from an editorial endorsing him to suggest she earned the endorsement of The Dallas Morning News.
- Said, "As a judge, I do not believe it is appropriate to seek support from groups where a large portion of the members and financial supporters are lawyers who may end up appearing in my court."
- Said, "I call upon my opponent [Voss] to stop distributing misleading and false information, particularly at Democratic Party club endorsement meetings,”
- Said, "the only people who benefit if Denise Garcia is elected Chief Justice are her political consultants and Governor Abbott because he gets to appoint someone to her position if she wins."
- Said, "All of the candidates put up for this court, and who have ever won a seat on this court as Democrats are clients of ONE POLITICAL CONSULTANT, who believes he owns the Fifth District Court of Appeals and uses the same as his personal political playground."

Ethics & Conduct

Served on the Board of Trustees for The Hockaday School, Board of Directors for Dispute Mediation Service, Inc., Board of Directors for S.A.A.V.E.D., and Community Advisory Board for North Texas Volunteer Center.

Served on the Board of Trustees for The Hockaday School, Board of Directors for Dispute Mediation Service, Inc., Board of Directors for S.A.A.V.E.D., and the Community Advisory Board for North Texas Volunteer Center.

- Served on the Board of Trustees for The Hockaday School, Board of Directors for Dispute Mediation Service, Inc., Board of Directors for S.A.A.V.E.D., and the Community Advisory Board for North Texas Volunteer Center.

Community Involvement

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Staci Williams

Supports establishing a citizen’s civil academy to educate citizens about the civil court process in hopes of encouraging participation in the jury process.

Wants to explore the departments of the George L. Allen, Senior Courthouse.

Wants to "be privy to jury duty secrets."

Supports the establishment of a Citizen’s Civil Academy (CCA) to educate Dallas County citizens about the civil court system and the George L. Allen, Senior Courts Building.

Supports the Citizens’ Civil Academy (CCA).

Supports grassroots activism and community engagement in judicial decisions.

Believes in participating in community programs such as the Citizen's Civil Academy.

Believes in making a positive impact on the lives of North Texas residents and plans to focus on the needs of the District.

Believes the Fifth District Court of Appeals has the highest number of backlogged pending criminal cases over a 24-month period of ANY intermediate appellate court in Texas due to justices not "carrying their weight on the court."

- Said, "Denise Garcia can’t even handle the job she has, according to the statistics from the Office of Court Administration."
- Believes the Fifth District Court of Appeals is "the worst-performing appeals court in Texas..."
- As a Judge, Williams established the Citizens’ Civil Academy, which aims to educate County residents about the civil court system. 
- Promises to make decisions that "always reflect the law" and to enhance court transparency.
- Plans to improve "the judicial process with fairness and efficiency."
- Said "My focus will always be on the people of the District,"

Believes in a strong judicial philosophy.

Believes the state Supreme Court's lack of political diversity has made it "overly friendly to business interests and less than attentive to those facing a company in court."

Supports bringing expertise, integrity, and a strong judicial philosophy to the role of Chief Justice.

Believes qualified and experienced individuals are needed on the Texas Supreme Court.

Believes the bar association poll is an "imperfect indicator of judicial ability."

Said, "I believe it is of the utmost importance to maintain judicial temperament in all things..."

Believes experience is the most important factor for voters.

Said, "Let’s make this campaign about experience, and the issues the Code of Judicial Conduct will allow us to discuss."

Said, "I'm not here to be the prom queen either, I'm a judge, and sometimes, judges aren't liked by attorneys."

Believes it is unethical to claim unearned endorsements.

Believes Voss’ mailer was "desperate and shows she temperamentally unsuited for an appellate bench."

Believes in maintaining ethical conduct in political campaigning and opposes misleading tactics.

Believes her opponent, Brandy Voss, is "offering further misleading information" by claiming to have the committee’s support.

Believes her opponent's campaign mailer was misleading.

Said, "My opponent isn’t listed on their site as having been endorsed...I’m not even sure if they endorse in statewide races."

The candidate's website says, "Voss Misleads, Deceives Voters."

Believes Democrats should not elect candidates solely based on "a single consultant's slate," calling it "machine politics at its worst."

Said "as Democrats, we CANNOT become complacent and simply elect candidates in the primary because they are on a single consultant’s slate. This is machine politics at its worst."

Believes candidates for the state’s highest civil court must be truthful and ethical, saying, “Any person seeking to be a justice...who basically tries to deceive and mislead voters...clearly has some issues with determining what constitutes the truth and what is crossing an ethical line.”

Believes that some lawyers prioritize profit over the interests of litigants and the issues at stake.

Supports the Mid-Cities, Trinity, and Dallas Chapter of The Links, Inc. and their STEM programs, AIDS WALK South Dallas, North Texas Volunteer Center, and the scholarship foundations of the J.L. Turner Legal Association, the Hispanic Bar Association, and the Asian Pacific Bar Association.

Volunteered with the Tyler chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in Spring 2020.

As a judge, created the Citizens’ Civil Academy to educate citizens about the civil court system.

Supports Dallas County community initiatives.

Served on the Board of Trustees for The Hockaday School and the Board of Directors for Dispute Mediation Service, Inc.

Served on the Collin County Housing Authority from Spring 2019 to 2021.

Supports community involvement through participation in the NAACP Tyler chapter's Citizen Civil Academy.

Participated in the Tyler NAACP's Citizen Civil Academy, which educates community members on the judicial system and encourages civic engagement.

Supports community involvement through the Citizens Civil Academy, a free educational program offered twice a year in various locations throughout Dallas County.

Served on the Advisory Board for North Texas Volunteer Center and supported the Mid-Cities.

Volunteered with the North Texas Volunteer Center,

Believes in community involvement and education, as demonstrated by the NAACP Tyler chapter's Citizen Civil Academy.

Believes in being "committed to the community."

Believes in enhancing community involvement through the Citizens Court Academy (CCA), which aims to educate citizens about the civil court system and the George L. Allen, Sr. Courts Building.

As of September 12, 2024, Staci Williams’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Judge Staci Williams is a two-term Judge of the 101st District Court in Dallas County, Texas. She has also served as an Administrative Judge for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and a Municipal Court Judge for the city of Dallas. Additionally, she has held in-house counsel positions with corporations in the defense, telecommunications, and retail industries.

Staci Williams is a two-term Judge of the 101st District Court in Dallas County, Texas, first elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2018 and 2022. She has announced her candidacy for Chief Justice of the Fifth District Court of Appeals in the March 2024 Democratic Primary.

Has 27 years of legal experience including:

Handles cases in commercial, medical malpractice, real estate, and oil and gas disputes.

Believes the 101st District Court should handle cases involving commercial, personal injury, medical malpractice, real estate, oil and gas, and consumer disputes.

Believes his trial court experience as both an attorney and a judge makes him "best suited for the Texas Supreme Court."

Has worked as in-house counsel for corporations in the defense, telecommunications, and retail industries.

Served as an arbitrator for the NASD/FINRA, U.S. Postal Service, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, and the Washington Metropolitan Airport Board.

Served as a Municipal Court Judge in Dallas.

Believes in having "extensive and balanced experience" in the legal field.

- In Texas, appeals from district and county courts, except death penalty cases, go to one of 14 intermediate courts of appeal.
- The chief justice presides over court meetings, manages the court's administration, and has the authority to assign justices or judges to specific cases.
- Justices are elected in partisan elections for six-year terms.
- The yearly salary for a Court of Appeals justice in Texas is between $192,500 and $255,050 based on the total number of years they have served, plus an additional bonus of $13,475 for Chief Justice duties.

Oversees a court that handles appeals of lower trial court decisions.