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RES-2017-035 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> RESOLUTION HONORING JUDICIAL DISTRICT 15B (ORANGE/CHATHAM) <br /> PUBLIC DEFENDER JAMES E. WILLIAMS, JR. <br /> WHEREAS, James E. Williams, Jr. served as the Public Defender of North Carolina <br /> Judicial District 15B, serving Orange and Chatham counties for 27 years; and <br /> WHEREAS, during his tenure, Mr. Williams led the development of innovative efforts to <br /> make the criminal justice system more equitable, including the Misdemeanor Diversion <br /> Program, the Public Defender Committee on Race and Equity, the Criminal Justice <br /> Resource Office, the NC Commission on Racial and Ethnic Disparities and the District 15B <br /> Racial Justice Taskforce; and <br /> WHEREAS, Mr. Williams consistently challenged racial and socioeconomic disparities in <br /> the criminal justice system in North Carolina, including racial bias in policing, unfair public <br /> housing admission provisions, high court costs and fees for indigent clients, inequitable pre- <br /> trial release and bail policies, institutional barriers to re-entry for formerly incarcerated <br /> persons, and police practices that target low-level crimes; and <br /> WHEREAS, James dedicated his career to working with other lawyers, judges, law <br /> enforcement officers, elected officials, and the community to address those disparities <br /> through efforts to bring transparency to policing decisions and judicial practices, promote <br /> body worn cameras for law enforcement officers and policies regarding broader access to <br /> police videos, and by leading public education initiatives and engaged community dialogue <br /> around racial bias in the criminal justice system; and <br /> WHEREAS, James undertook these efforts while also tirelessly and zealously representing <br /> his clients, including defendants in some of the most high-profile and controversial cases in <br /> our community, all of which were resolved without death penalty verdicts and in ways that <br /> helped the community begin to heal; and <br /> WHEREAS, Mr. Williams is a fearless advocate who cares deeply about the indigent clients <br /> that the Office of the Public Defender represents, and is dedicated to investigating every <br /> fact, developing compelling mitigation, retaining high-quality experts and filing every <br /> motion so that his clients receive the highest quality legal representation, as well as <br /> providing guidance, inspiration, and mentorship to those around him; <br /> NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> does hereby extend to James E. Williams, Jr., our sincere and steadfast appreciation for his <br /> dedicated service to the Office of the Public Defender and to the residents of Orange <br /> County, for helping our community be a more just and equitable place, and for embodying <br /> the words of Thurgood Marshall, who said "You do what you think is right, and let the law <br /> catch up". <br /> This the 6th day of June, 2017. <br /> Mark Dorosin, Chair <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />