Agenda - 06-06-2017 - 4-a - Resolution Honoring Judicial District 15B (Orange-Chatham) Public Defender James E. Williams, Jr

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RES-2017-035 3 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION HONORING JUDICIAL DISTRICT 15B (ORANGE/CHATHAM) PUBLIC DEFENDER JAMES E. WILLIAMS, JR. WHEREAS, James E. Williams, Jr. served as the Public Defender of North Carolina Judicial District 15B, serving Orange and Chatham counties for 27 years; and WHEREAS, during his tenure, Mr. Williams led the development of innovative efforts to make the criminal justice system more equitable, including the Misdemeanor Diversion Program, the Public Defender Committee on Race and Equity, the Criminal Justice Resource Office, the NC Commission on Racial and Ethnic Disparities and the District 15B Racial Justice Taskforce; and WHEREAS, Mr. Williams consistently challenged racial and socioeconomic disparities in the criminal justice system in North Carolina, including racial bias in policing, unfair public housing admission provisions, high court costs and fees for indigent clients, inequitable pre- trial release and bail policies, institutional barriers to re-entry for formerly incarcerated persons, and police practices that target low-level crimes; and WHEREAS, James dedicated his career to working with other lawyers, judges, law enforcement officers, elected officials, and the community to address those disparities through efforts to bring transparency to policing decisions and judicial practices, promote body worn cameras for law enforcement officers and policies regarding broader access to police videos, and by leading public education initiatives and engaged community dialogue around racial bias in the criminal justice system; and WHEREAS, James undertook these efforts while also tirelessly and zealously representing his clients, including defendants in some of the most high-profile and controversial cases in our community, all of which were resolved without death penalty verdicts and in ways that helped the community begin to heal; and WHEREAS, Mr. Williams is a fearless advocate who cares deeply about the indigent clients that the Office of the Public Defender represents, and is dedicated to investigating every fact, developing compelling mitigation, retaining high-quality experts and filing every motion so that his clients receive the highest quality legal representation, as well as providing guidance, inspiration, and mentorship to those around him; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners does hereby extend to James E. Williams, Jr., our sincere and steadfast appreciation for his dedicated service to the Office of the Public Defender and to the residents of Orange County, for helping our community be a more just and equitable place, and for embodying the words of Thurgood Marshall, who said "You do what you think is right, and let the law catch up". This the 6th day of June, 2017. Mark Dorosin, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners