Chief Judge Felicia Toney Williams assumed the position of Chief Judge of the Second Circuit Court of Appeal on October 4, 2018. She was the first woman elected to the Second Circuit Court of Appeal in 1992 and was re-elected without opposition in 2002 and 2012. From September-December 1994, Chief Judge Williams was appointed to serve as an Associate Justice Pro Tempore for the Louisiana Supreme Court. In 1990, she was the first African American elected as judge for the Sixth Judicial District, which encompasses East Carroll, Madison and Tensas Parishes. From 1982 to 1990, she served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Sixth Judicial District and a partner in the law firm of Williams & Williams, APLC.
Chief Judge Williams received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern University in 1977 (magna cum laude), and her Juris Doctor degree from Southern University School of Law in 1980 (cum laude). She was Editor-in-Chief of the Southern University Law Review Journal. In 1994, Chief Judge Williams completed the Appellate Judges Program at New York University School of Law.
Chief Judge Williams is a member of numerous organizations, including but not limited to: The American Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association, Shreveport Bar Association, National Bar Association, Louisiana Judicial Council, National Association of Woman Judges, Fred Fudickar, Jr. American Inn of Court, Louis A. Martinet Legal Society (Monroe), Louisiana Task force on Women in the Courts, Louisiana Task Force on Racial and Ethnic Bias, Madison Parish Task Force on Education and Drug Abuse, Madison Parish Schools Advisory Committee – Law Debate Team, Life Member – Southern University Alumni Federation, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Flowers’ Chapter #70 Order of the Eastern Star and Silver Water Girl Scout Council, Troop Leader.
Chief Judge Williams has been recognized and honored by many organizations such as: Who’s Who in American Law, Honorary Member – National Honor Society of Secondary Schools, Distinguished Alumni Award – Southern University Law Center (1992, 1999, 2005), Outstanding Service Award – National Association of University Women (1993), Outstanding Community Service Award – AKA Sorority, Inc. – Sigma Rho Omega Chapter (1993), Silver Dollar Service Award – Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., Monroe, LA (1995), Human & Civil Rights Trailblazer Award – Louisiana Association of Educators (1996), Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award – City of Shreveport (2009) and the Thurgood Marshall Service Award.
Chief Judge Williams served as President of the Second Circuit Judges Association from 2009-2011, Vice-Chairman of the Louisiana Supreme Court Judiciary Commission from 2016-2017 and as its Chairman from 2017-2018. She also served as Chairman of the Louisiana Conference of Court of Appeal Judges from 2017-2018.
Chief Judge Williams is the daughter of the late A. C. Toney and the late Ernestine Edison Toney. She is married to Attorney Moses Junior Williams and the mother of three children: Rhonda Williams Jackson, Myra M. Williams and Justin J. Williams and the grandmother of Christian and Camryn Jackson.
Chief Judge Williams is a lifelong resident of Madison Parish and an active member of New Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in Tallulah.