Judge Jacqueline Williams, a proud East New York native, was recently spotlighted on NYCPolitics.com, highlighting the remarkable talent that continues to emerge from this vibrant community. From teachers and attorneys to judges, professional dancers, business owners, doctors, entertainers, school principals and more, East New York is home to countless individuals making a difference.
At EastNewYork.com, we’re committed to showcasing the positive stories that reflect the true spirit of our neighborhood. In fact, the CEO of JIG Media, which owns EastNewYork.com, also grew up in Brownsville and East New York, underscoring the deep roots and pride that fuel our mission.
Read the full feature on Judge Williams below, courtesy of NYCPolitics.com.
FEATURE STORY:
On any given day in Kings County Family Court, you’ll find Judge Jacqueline D. Williams listening intently from the bench, not just to legal arguments, but to the human stories that shape them. With nearly 27 years in public service, Williams has carved out a judicial path guided by empathy, rooted in her Brooklyn upbringing, and sharpened by some of the country’s most elite academic institutions.
“I didn’t just come back to Brooklyn,” she says. “I never really left.”
Brooklyn in Her DNA
Although born on March Air Force Base in California during the Vietnam War while her father served overseas, Judge Williams’ story is unmistakably Brooklyn. Her family returned to East New York when she was in elementary school, settling in a neighborhood where Panamanian pride ran deep, and civic duty ran even deeper. Her father, Earl Williams, a longtime District Leader and Chair of Community Board 5, made public service part of the family fabric.
Williams told NYCPolitics.com, “Brooklyn gave me everything,” she reflects. “My roots in the United States and my connection to my rich Panamanian heritage, and my connection with my large extended Panamanian Family. Brooklyn has given me my voice, my sense of purpose, it all came together here!”
From Bishop Kearney High School in Bensonhurst to Yale University, where she studied history with a focus on Caribbean and Latin American issues, Williams always gravitated toward communities on the margins. At UC Berkeley School of Law, she became an editor of the African American Law Journal, shaping her legal identity around advocacy, equity, and civil rights.
Building a Legal Legacy
Williams’ career has touched nearly every corner of the court system. She cut her teeth in busy all purpose and trial parts, quickly earned a reputation for her poise and precise legal writing. As Principal Court Attorney to Justice Bernadette Bayne in Kings County Supreme Court, she handled complex cases from bodily injury and malpractice to foreclosure and labor law disputes.
Elected to the Civil Court in 2006, she began on the criminal side, presiding over one of Brooklyn’s busiest all purpose parts. But it was her move to the Civil Trial Part where her approach and judicial voice began to shine firm and to ring clearly with fairness, and always with a focus on the dignity of litigants. Her written opinions became known for their clarity and compassion.
“She understands the law—but she also understands people,” said one longtime court colleague. “That’s rare.”
Championing Youth and Families
In 2014, Williams shifted to Family Court, overseeing Juvenile Delinquency cases involving some of the city’s most at-risk youth. Her lens remained focused on second chances.
“Children don’t choose their circumstances,” she says. “They deserve protection and hope. My job is to give them both.”
Appointed an Acting Supreme Court Justice in 2015, she took over the Matrimonial Part, managing a heavy calendar of uncontested divorce cases with a signature blend of efficiency and empathy. The following year, she returned to Family Court, this time handling child protection cases, including allegations of neglect and abuse that require not just legal acumen but emotional steadiness. Although she officially returned to Family Court, she was still managing cases in the Matrimonial Part at the same time. Her approach has become a model of balance: meticulous, human-centered, and deeply aware of the stakes.
Beyond the Bench
When she’s not in court, Williams is still doing the work. She volunteers with Brooklyn’s Panamanian community, mentors young women, and is organizing a team to host and to celebrate teens through ‘A Day for Brooklyn Teens at Family Court’, introducing youth to the justice system as a place not just of punishment, but possibility.
Judge Williams has served as a lector at her church, a Yale alumni interviewer for prospective students, as well as a 38-year member of Lions Club as a Leader and Past District Governor at the local and international levels. She was also a United Nations guest speaker and a living reminder to young Brooklynites that power and compassion can walk hand-in-hand.
“I don’t just want to be a judge,” she tells high schoolers. “I want you to see that you could be one too.”
When asked why she was not limited in outlook or fearful of a bright future? Williams answered, “I was never afraid of the future because I was raised by people who made the impossible feel possible. My mother, a young immigrant navigating a new country, built a community wherever she went. My grandmother pursued an education and a career in nursing while working and commuting across the city. And my father instilled in me that leadership is not a title, it’s a responsibility to serve others. Their resilience, love, and example shaped my belief that no matter where you start, you can create a life of purpose, dignity, and impact.”
What’s Next? A Brooklyn Path to Supreme Court
With decades of experience in civil, criminal, and family law—and a grounded presence that has earned her the admiration of both litigants and attorneys—many observers say the next chapter for Judge Williams is obvious.
“She’s ready for Supreme,” said one veteran attorney. “She has the legal intellect, the courtroom experience, and the community connection. She’s already acting in that capacity—she belongs there full time.”
Williams acknowledges the possibility with a quiet confidence.
“I’ve always followed the path that allows me to serve Brooklyn best,” she says. “If the next step is the Supreme Court, then yes, it’s absolutely on my radar.”
Until then, she remains steadfast in her current role, bringing fairness and compassion to every case that enters her courtroom. And no matter what title comes next, one thing is certain: Judge Jacqueline Williams is and always will be Brooklyn made.
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