In preparing to swear in Joseph K. Williams III as the newest member of the Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, it was decided that the large meeting room, number 700, in the City/ County Building, would be big enough.
It wasn’t. Two county chief executives, dozens of Common Pleas, Superior and Supreme Court justices, even more attorneys, city, county and state officials, and countless friends packed the room to overflowing—and for that Williams took the blame
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HEAR YEA—Joined by his wife, Darryl Ford Williams, attorney Joseph K. Williams III is sworn in as a judge on Allegheny County’s Common Pleas Court. He became only the second Black male judge on the bench.
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“I invited everybody, but I didn’t think you’d all come. Thank you,” he said. “You’re all invited to the reception afterwards for refreshments—for as long as they last.”
Despite the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd, Williams’ Nov. 10 oath of office ceremony proceeded judiciously—even without a bailiff.
Following the invocation by Rev. Harold T. Lewis, rector of Calvary Episcopal Church, and the introduction of the various dignitaries by President Judge Joseph James, Father Jack O’Malley, labor chaplain for the AFL-CIO, recalled first meeting Williams when he served as a priest at St. Joseph’s Church in Manchester from 1965-1980.
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CONTINUUM—Judge Joseph K. Williams III, center, installed as the county’s 43rd Common Pleas judge, and third African-American judge, is congratulated by his mentors Senior Common Pleas Judge Livingstone Johnson, right, and Senior Superior Court Justice Justin Johnson.
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O’Malley said he was struck by Williams’ ability to defuse potentially violent situations between groups of kids from Manchester and the upper North Side, adding that those talents obviously helped him build his successful law practice and will continue to benefit him as a judge.
“‘Bubby’ Williams, that was his nickname,” said O’Malley. “I still call him Bubby because ‘Judge Bubby’ just sounds too good.”
The levity continued when Common Pleas Judge Dwayne Woodruff made his remarks moving the court to accept Williams’ judicial commission to fill the unexpired term of (now) Superior Court Judge Cheryl Allen.
Judge Woodruff noted he had been on championship teams before, with All-Pros like Joe Green and Jack Lambert, and he was pleased to be on another as a common pleas judge.
“Like all teams, whether through retirement, illness or free agency, we need to draft new talent,” Judge Woodruff said. “And with his 25 years of experience in criminal law, estate law and international transactions, Joe fits the bill.
“Few people know that Joe is also a Persian rug expert, and can spot a fake from a mile away. This is an ability that will come in handy as he joins the bench. It is my pleasure to present my friend, fraternity brother and brother in Christ, Joseph K. Williams.”
Joined by his wife Darryl, who held the Bible, Williams was then sworn in by Judge James. Then, putting on his judicial robe, he was greeted with thunderous applause.
After momentarily fighting back tears, Williams thanked everyone who helped make the day possible; from grade-school teachers, to friends who traveled in from out of town, to mentors and family.
“And as I stand here, I can’t help but think of my grandfather, who worked as a janitor in this building and would clean this room,” he said. “This is my American Dream. And my greatest thanks goes to my wife because she blessed my run for this office in the first place.”
He reminded the audience that his dream is, so far, transitory, because he must run in a May Primary election, then a General Election, to keep his robes for a full term.
“So while this is a happy day, I still have to win a race,” he said. “So the real celebration will be a year from now in November.”
(Send comments to cmorrow@newpittsburghcourier.com.)