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Kathleen M. Williams
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2011 - Present
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Kathleen M. Williams is a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. She was nominated to the court by President Barack Obama (D) on July 21, 2010, and confirmed by the United States Senate on August 2, 2011.[1][2] At the time of appointment, Williams was a Federal Public Defender.[3]
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.
Early life and education
Williams received her B.A. from Duke University in 1978 and her J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law in 1982.[4][3]
Professional career
After graduating from law school, Williams worked in private practice until 1984. Next, she served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for four years. In 1988, she returned to private practice. Two years later, she became Chief Assistant Federal Public Defender for the District of Southern Florida. In 1995, she was named Federal Public Defender for that district and served in that capacity until appointment to the courts.[4][3]
Judicial career
Southern District of Florida
 |
| Nominee Information |
| Name: Kathleen M. Williams |
| Court: Southern District of Florida |
| Progress |
| Confirmed 377 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: 7/21/2010
|
| ABA Rating: Substantial Well Qualified, Minority Qualified
|
| Questionnaire: |
| Hearing: 2/2/2011
|
| QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported: 05/12/2011
|
| Confirmed: 8/2/2011
|
| Vote: Voice Vote
|
 Returned: 12/22/2010
|
On July 21, 2010, President Obama nominated Williams to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.[4][3]
Williams' nomination was returned to the President at the end of the 111th Congress. President Obama resubmitted the nomination on January 5, 2011.
She was rated as "Well Qualified" by a substantial majority and "Qualified" by a minority of the American Bar Association. She had a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 2, 2011, and you can find her hearing transcript here.[5]
Williams was confirmed to her post by a Senate voice vote on August 2, 2011.[6]
Confirmation vote
The U.S. Senate confirmed Williams on August 2, 2011, by voice vote.[2]
Senate Judiciary Committee hearing
The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Williams' nomination on February 2, 2011. She was reported to the full Senate on May 12, 2011.[7]
Nomination
On July 21, 2010, President Barack Obama (D) nominated Williams to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.[1]
Williams' nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on December 22, 2010.[8] The president renominated her on January 5, 2011.[2]
Williams was nominated to replace Judge Daniel Hurley, who assumed senior status on February 24, 2009.[1][9]
Awards and associations
- 2002-2008: Chairperson, Federal Defender Advisory Group and representative to the Defender Services Committee of the Judicial Conference[4]
Noteworthy cases
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings can require passengers to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination
On August 8, 2021, Williams ruled that Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings can require passengers to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination.[10] On May 3, 2021, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed into law SB2006, a bill that banned any Florida business from mandating that an individual provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination in order to receive services. That law went into effect on July 1, 2021.[11] According to Miami Herald, Norwegian Cruise Lines sued Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkes, over the law, arguing it "puts passengers and crew at risk and violates federal law and the company’s constitutional rights". Williams' ruling blocked Florida from enforcing the new law against Norwegian.[10]
On August 9, 2021, Gov. DeSantis announced that the state of Florida would appeal Williams' ruling. DeSantis said, "We disagree with the judge’s legal reasoning and will be appealing to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals."[12]
About the court
| Southern District of Florida |
|---|
| Eleventh Circuit |
|
| Judgeships |
| Posts: 18 |
| Judges: 18 |
| Vacancies: 0 |
| Judges |
| Chief: Cecilia Altonaga |
| Active judges: Roy Altman, Cecilia Altonaga, Edward Artau, Jacqueline Becerra, Beth Bloom, Aileen Cannon, Melissa Damian, William Dimitrouleas, Darrin P. Gayles, David Leibowitz, Jose E. Martinez, Donald Middlebrooks, Kevin M. Moore, Robin L. Rosenberg, Rodolfo Ruiz, Anuraag Singhal, Rodney Smith, Kathleen M. Williams Senior judges: |
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida is one of 94 United States district courts. The district operates out of courthouses in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Fort Pierce. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit based in downtown Atlanta at the Elbert P. Tuttle Federal Courthouse. The Southern District of Florida has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.
The following counties are located in the Southern District of Florida:
To read opinions published by this court, click here.
The federal nomination process
Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:
- The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
- The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
- As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
- After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
- If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
- If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
- The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
- If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
- If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.
See also
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- Biography from Federal Judicial Center
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Congress.gov, "PN1997 — Kathleen M. Williams — The Judiciary," accessed August 19, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Congress.gov, "PN42 — Kathleen M. Williams — The Judiciary," accessed August 19, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Official FJC Bio of Judge Williams Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "fjc" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 WBAL.com, " President Nominates Judge For District Court Of Maryland," July 21, 2010
- ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, Federal Nomination Materials: 111th Congress (dead link)
- ↑ 112th Senate Confirmation Materials
- ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Results of Executive Business Meeting – December 1, 2022," December 1, 2022
- ↑ Under Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, pending nominations are returned to the president if the Senate adjourns sine die or recesses for more than 30 days.
- ↑ Judge Hurley's Biography from the Federal Judicial Center.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Miami Herald, "Norwegian can require cruise passengers to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination, judge rules," August 9, 2021
- ↑ JDSupra, "Florida Legislation Bans Businesses from Requiring COVID-19 Vaccine “Passports”," May 13, 2021
- ↑ Reuters, "Florida appeals ruling allowing cruise to use 'vaccine passports'," August 9, 2021
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by - |
United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida 2011-Present |
Succeeded by - |
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| Nominated | |||
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State of Florida Tallahassee (capital) |
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