Michael Williams believes a good judge should possess empathy. A partner at Davis, Goss & Williams, the Clinton resident is running for Hinds County Court judge for District 3 in the hopes of improving the county he's lived in almost all his life.
Williams, 48, grew up in Utica. He attended Millsaps College, graduating in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in political science. Williams moved on to Tulane University in New Orleans for law school, where he met his future wife, Ingrid. After receiving his law degree in 1986, Williams returned to Hinds County, joining the law firm Stamps & Stamps. In 1989, Williams joined forces with two friends and fellow attorneys, Gregory Davis and Tylvester Goss, to start a private practice.
Williams lives in Clinton with Ingrid, a hearing officer for the State Personnel Board, and his son, Michael Jr. He and Ingrid are active members of Christ the King Catholic Church, serving on the board of the church's Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School. Williams also helps out with his son's Boy Scout troop and cheers on his daughter, Courtney, who plays soccer for Spelman College in Atlanta.
What drew you to law?
I don't know. I remember in the 10th and 11th grade saying, "I want to be a lawyer." It wasn't because I saw "Perry Mason" or anything. It was just something I was drawn to. I like people; I like meeting people. I like representing people, being a voice for other people, and I've always wanted to do that.
What was the attraction of having your own firm?
Sometimes you have ideas of how you want to run a business, how you want to take care of your clients, the areas of
practice that you want to participate in. And we just thought it best that we start our own firm to do that.
What areas do you focus on in your practice?
We do a lot of personal injury work, (and) we do a lot of claimants' workers compensation, a lot of debtor bankruptcy.
Why are you running for judge?
I want to take my 24 years of legal experience and use that to make Hinds County a safer and better place for all of its citizens to live and work. I don't want to sit around and say, "Oh, something should be done about this." I want to participate in the process and do what I can to help Hinds County reach the place it should be. It's already good, but I think Hinds County can be better.
How does a Hinds County Court Judge help improve the county?
I think Hinds County needs a judiciary that is fair and balanced to everyone, and treats all citizens, all litigants, with dignity and respect. Hinds County needs a judge who will be efficient—someone who will expedite the matters before (him), get things done—and flexible, not doing things the same old way. New concepts. Working with the public, understanding that they have someone who empathizes with them, and creating the bonds of trust there to get things done. You have to be fair, and you have to enforce the law, but you also can empathize with people. I think that's the type of judiciary Hinds County needs, and I think that would be great for all its citizens and would make the place safer.
There are three county court positions in Hinds County. One of those is assigned to the Youth Court, and if assigned to the Youth Court, that County Court judge needs to carry out the mission of the Youth Court, which is not simply to incarcerate people, (but) to return these people to be productive members of society. That will make Jackson and Hinds County a safer place for all of its citizens, all of its litigants, to live and work—sometimes being flexible, working with parents, being a role model to them.
You mentioned the administrative duties of a judge. What lessons have you learned about being an administrator?
It's harder than it looks. Making payroll, dealing with staff, insurance, vendors, at the same time trying to practice law and make enough money for the people who depend on you. Not just my family, but the people who work with us. It is harder than it looks. But if you treat people with dignity and respect, and you try to understand their situation,
it goes a long way. I think I can carry that to the judiciary.
(In) my practice, there are three of us. You have to be efficient. You have to work the cases as efficiently as possible. And you have to be flexible. So I think those are concepts that I can take from here over there.
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