Billy J. Williams Confirmed as U.S. Attorney for Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore. – On Wednesday, March 7, 2018, the U.S. Senate confirmed Billy J. Williams as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon by voice vote. President Donald J. Trump signed his commission on Tuesday, March 13, 2018.

“I am honored by the confidence of President Trump, Attorney General Sessions, Senators Wyden and Merkley, Congressman Walden and all those who supported me throughout this process” said Williams. “The steadfast commitment and unyielding support of so many dedicated law enforcement leaders in Oregon—sheriffs, chiefs of police, tribal law enforcement, and federal law enforcement—is humbling. It is a privilege,” continued Williams, “to serve the citizens of Oregon and the United States alongside my colleagues at the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

Williams was named Acting U.S. Attorney in May 2015. He was appointed Interim U.S. Attorney by Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch in December 2015 and re-appointed by Chief U.S. District Judge for Oregon Michael W. Mosman in February 2016. Williams will serve a four-year term as the chief federal law enforcement officer in Oregon.

As Interim U.S. Attorney, Williams served on a variety of Attorney General Advisory Subcommittees. As U.S. Attorney, he will continue to serve on the following subcommittees: Native American Issues Subcommittee, Border and Immigration Subcommittee, Domestic Terrorism Executive Committee and the Marijuana Working Group. He is a member of the Ninth Circuit Fairness Committee and the District of Oregon Implicit Bias Steering Committee.

Williams is an 18-year veteran of the Department of Justice, joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office in October 2000. Prior to his appointment as Acting U.S. Attorney, Williams held multiple leadership positions at the U.S. Attorney’s Office including First Assistant U.S. Attorney, Chief of the Criminal Division, Chief of the Violent Crimes Unit, and as the district’s Indian Country Assistant U.S. Attorney and Tribal Liaison.

Prior to his federal service, Williams served as a Senior Deputy District Attorney in Multnomah County where he supervised the Career Criminal Unit. As a state prosecutor, Williams handled major crimes of violence, including aggravated murder, adult and child sex offenses, domestic violence, narcotics trafficking, vehicular homicide, and officer-involved shootings.

Williams received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Washington State University in 1981 and his law degree from the Willamette University College of Law in 1989.