Education

Judge Staci is a graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center, Smith College, and The Hockaday School.

Meet Judge Staci Williams

Staci Williams is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, Smith College, and The Hockaday School.

Previous legal experience/area of practice before becoming a judge and with whom:
Judge Williams’ legal career spans over 35 years. Her legal career includes a Judicial Clerkship in the U.S. Virgin Islands; In-house Corporate Counsel positions in the defense, telecommunications, and retail industries; Trial Attorney and Administrative Judge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; Arbitrator for NASD/FINRA, U.S. Postal Service, Dallas Area Rapid Transit ( “DART’’), and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (“FMCS”).

101CourtModifiedPoliciesandProceduresNovember2023.pdf

Staci previously served as a judicial clerk in the U.S. Virgin Islands; held in-house corporate counsel positions in the defense, telecommunications, and retail industries; and worked as a trial attorney and administrative judge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She also worked as an arbitrator for the U.S. Postal Service, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

101st Civil District Court - Dallas County

Court: 101st Judicial District Court
Judge’s Name: Staci Williams
Date Licensed: 1986
Year Elected/Appointed: Elected, November 2014; Re-elected, November 2018;
 Re-elected, November 2022.

Staci serves as judge of the 101st Judicial District Court. She was elected in 2014 and reelected in 2018 and 2022.

2026 Texas General Election

Completed a judicial clerkship in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Served as an administrative judge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Worked as in-house corporate counsel in the defense, telecommunications, and retail industries.

Has served as judge of the 101st Judicial District Court since being elected in 2014 and reelected in 2018 and 2022.

As a state district court judge, oversees all felony, probate, and civil cases, authorizes naturalization and divorce proceedings, and exercises authority to review and correct the rulings of lower courts.

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

- As a state district court judge, oversees all felony, probate, and civil cases, authorizes naturalization and divorce proceedings, and exercises authority to review and correct the rulings of lower courts.
- Served as a trial attorney with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Legal Experience

AALM: Describe your style in the courtroom.

SW: Since taking office in 2015, our mantra is that we want the 101st District Court to be “the Court of Choice” in Dallas County. We have tried to do that by creating a friendly environment that’s hostility free, while still maintaining the dignity and respect for the judicial system.

Judge Staci Williams: The Golden Rule

Does the Court have any settings such as DWOP, mediation, trial dates, others that are set and noticed automatically upon filing suit or some other triggering date?
The Court has a policy of setting a newly filed case on the dismissal (DWOP) docket approximately 60 days after filing. The case is taken off the dismissal docket if an answer is filed. Once an answer is filed, the Court will issue a trial setting.

Parties are expected to attempt to resolve discovery disputes and conference in compliance with Local Rules PRIOR to filing motions regarding discovery disputes. The Court holds a weekly Discovery Dispute Docket.

TRIALS:
What is the Court’s procedure for setting a trial? How are cases that are not reached reset? Do you grant special trial settings, and, if so, under what circumstances (e.g., lengthy trials, witnesses or parties with disabilities or serious health conditions, out of town parties or witnesses). How should they be requested?
Once an answer is filed, the Court will set a case for trial on its two-week trial docket. Cases that are not reached in each 2–week trial docket are automatically reset. The Court may grant a special trial setting if the case is expected to last longer than 5 days, or if the witnesses or parties are from out-of-town or have disabilities or serious health conditions.

“After months of calls from supporters asking me to run, I’ve made the decision to move to a court where I can make a larger, more positive impact on the lives of the people of North Texas. This bench is essential to protect the people of Texas from increasingly radical policies advanced by a very wealthy few. I pledge that the decisions I make will always reflect the law and that I will improve the court by making it more transparent. My focus will always be on the people of the District,” Judge Williams said.

Williams Announces Run for Chief Justice, Fifth District Court of Appeals

Said the 101st District Court seeks a friendly, hostility-free environment while maintaining dignity and respect for the judicial system.

Seeks a friendly, hostility-free environment while maintaining dignity and respect for the judicial system.

As judge of the 101st District Court, sets newly filed cases for a dismissal docket about 60 days after filing unless an answer is filed.

As judge of the 101st District Court, requires parties to attempt to resolve discovery disputes before filing motions and holds a weekly discovery-dispute docket.

Requires parties to attempt to resolve discovery disputes before filing motions and holds a weekly discovery-dispute docket.

As judge of the 101st District Court, uses two-week trial dockets and may grant special settings for lengthy cases or parties and witnesses with specified needs.

Pledges to make the court more transparent.

- Seeks a friendly, hostility-free environment while maintaining dignity and respect for the judicial system.
- As judge of the 101st District Court, sets newly filed cases for a dismissal docket about 60 days after filing unless an answer is filed.
- Requires parties to attempt to resolve discovery disputes before filing motions and holds a weekly discovery-dispute docket.
- As judge of the 101st District Court, uses two-week trial dockets and may grant special settings for lengthy cases or parties and witnesses with specified needs.
- Pledges to make the court more transparent.

Judicial Administration

AALM: What advice do you have for attorneys considering the switch?

SW: The hardest thing any judge does is sit as an impartial arbiter. It’s sounds easy to lay people and those newly in practice, but after spending a lifetime taking a side, it can be very difficult. It helps, before you decide to file, to have the talk with yourself and make sure this is right for you. Being a judge is truly public service.

Said judges must serve as impartial arbiters.

Pledges that her decisions will reflect the law.

- Said judges must serve as impartial arbiters.
- Pledges that her decisions will reflect the law.

Judicial Philosophy

As of July 22, 2026, Staci Williams’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Ethics & Conduct

AALM: How are you involved with the local community?

SW: Very… but not just the community at large, but various groups within it from the Dallas Country Bar Association to The Preston Hollow Democrats.

I am particularly proud of the Citizens’ Civil Academy (CCA), a program to educate citizens about the civil court system that I founded in September 2015. The CCA explores the types of cases heard in the civil courts and what happens to a case from the time the case is filed until it is disposed.

Founded the Citizens’ Civil Academy, which educates citizens about the civil court system and case process.

- Founded the Citizens’ Civil Academy, which educates citizens about the civil court system and case process.

Community Involvement

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Staci Williams

- Pledges to make the court more transparent.

- Pledges that her decisions will reflect the law.

As a state district court judge, Williams oversees all felony cases, civil suits, and probate proceedings, and exercises authority to issue divorce decrees, annulments, and legal separations.

Hosted a free community event to discuss the civil justice system.

Opposes seeking endorsements from groups with members who may appear in her court.

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. , Community Advisory Board for North Texas Volunteer Center, and as Chair/Co-Chair and/or member of various committees for the Dallas Bar Association and the J. L. Turner Legal Association.

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

Buket Urgen

Isaac Brickman

- District judges manage Texas district courts, which are trial courts with general jurisdiction, and have exclusive authority over felony cases. A judge may be presiding over a civil, criminal, juvenile, or special court. They also share jurisdiction with Texas county courts.
- Texas has over 470 district courts, each presided over by a single judge. Some courts cover multiple counties, while others are assigned to single counties based on population size.
- District judges are elected through partisan elections for four-year terms. Candidates must be between 25 and 75 years old, have lived in the district for at least 2 years, and be licensed lawyers with at least 4 years' experience.
- The annual salary for district judges ranges from $175,000 to $245,500, depending on years of service.

Presides over a trial court with general jurisdiction. 