Beth A. Williams was sworn in as Assistant Attorney General on August 21, 2017, after unanimous confirmation by the Senate.
Ms. Williams graduated from Harvard College magna cum laude, with a degree in History and Literature. She earned her law degree from Harvard Law School, where she served as Executive Editor of the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy. After graduation, she served as a law clerk to Judge Richard C. Wesley of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
From 2005-2006, Ms. Williams served as Special Counsel to the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, where she assisted with the confirmations of Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. and Associate Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. to the United States Supreme Court.
Prior to becoming Assistant Attorney General, Ms. Williams was a litigation and appellate partner at a national law firm, where her practice focused on complex commercial, securities, and First Amendment litigation. Ms. Williams litigated cases in federal and state courts across the country. She also served as chair of the firm’s Women’s Leadership Initiative in Washington, D.C. Ms. Williams received the firm’s Pro Bono Service Award seven years in a row for her dedication to pro bono work.
President Donald J. Trump announced his intention to nominate Ms. Williams on June 12, 2017. The Senate confirmed her nomination on August 3, 2017.