Background
Williams, Spencer Mortimer was born on February 24, 1922 in Reading, Massachusetts, United States. Son of Theodore Ryder and Anabel (Hutchison) Williams.
Williams, Spencer Mortimer was born on February 24, 1922 in Reading, Massachusetts, United States. Son of Theodore Ryder and Anabel (Hutchison) Williams.
AB, University of California at Los Angeles, 1943;postgraduate, Hastings College Law, 1946;Juris Doctor, University of California, Berkeley, 1948.
Born in Reading, Massachusetts, Williams was in the United States Navy Lieutenant (JG) during World War II, from 1943 to 1946. He received an A.B. from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1943 and an LL.B. from the University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law in 1948. He was in private practice in San Jose, California from 1948 to 1949.
He was a Deputy county counsel, Santa Clara County, California from 1949 to 1950. He was a U.S. Naval Reserve Lieutenant from 1950 to 1952. He was a County counsel, Santa Clara County, California from 1952 to 1966.
He was a Secretary, California State Human Relations Agency from 1967 to 1970. He was in private practice in Sacramento and San Jose, California from 1970 to 1971. Williams was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
Williams was nominated by President Richard Nixon on June 12, 1971, to a new seat created by 84 Stat. 294. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 29, 1971, and received his commission the same day. He assumed senior status on February 23, 1987.
Williams served in that capacity until his death, in Carmichael, California, in 2008.
Chairman San Jose Christmas Seals Drive, 1953, San Jose Muscular Dystrophy Drive, 1953, 54. Team captain fund raising drive San Jose Young Men’s Christian Association, 1960. Co-chairman industrial section fund raising drive Alexian Brothers Hospital, San Jose, 1964.
Team captain fund raising drive San Jose Hospital. Member committee onyouth and government Young Men’s Christian Association, 1967-1968. Candidate for California Assembly, 1954, California Attorney General, 1966, 70.
Board of directors San Jose Better Business Bureau, 1955-1966, Boys City Boys' Club, San Jose, 1965-1967. President trustees Santa Clara County Law Library, 1955-1966. Served with United States Naval Reserve, 1943-1946.
To lieutenant commander Judge Advocate General Corps United States Naval Reserve, 1950-1952, PTO. Member American Bar Association, California Bar Association (vice Chairman of Commission on publicly employed attorneys 1962-1963), Santa Clara County Bar Association, Sacramento Bar Association, International Association Trial Judges (president 1995-1996), California District Attorneys Association (president 1963-1964), National Association County Civil Attorneys (president 1963-1964), 9th Circuit District Judges Association (president 1981-1983), Federal Judges Association (president 1982-1987), Kiwanis, Theta Delta Chi.
Married Kathryn Bramlage, August 20, 1943. Children: Carol Marcia (Mistress James B. Garvey), Peter, Spencer, Clark, Janice, Diane (Mistress Sean Quinn).