Billy J. Williams has been the U.S. Attorney and the chief federal law enforcement official in Oregon since May 2015. Williams was re-appointed by President Donald J. Trump on November 17, 2017 to serve a four-year term. He was confirmed by the senate on March 7, 2018 and his presidential commission was signed on March 13, 2018.
Williams is an 18-year veteran of the Department of Justice, joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office in October 2000. He has held multiple leadership positions including First Assistant U.S. Attorney, Chief of the Criminal Division, Chief of the Violent Crimes Unit, and as the district’s Indian Country Assistant U.S. Attorney and Tribal Liaison.
Williams has served on a number of Attorney General Advisory Subcommittees. He is currently appointed to serve on the following subcommittees and working groups: Native American Issues Subcommittee, Civil Rights Subcommittee, Border & Immigration Subcommittee, and Domestic Terrorism Executive Committee. He is also the Public Lands Focus Area Leader for the Marijuana Issues Working Group. Williams is a member of the Ninth Circuit Fairness Committee and the District of Oregon Implicit Bias Steering Committee.
Prior to his federal service, Williams served as a Senior Deputy District Attorney in Multnomah County where he supervised the Career Criminal Unit. As a state prosecutor, Williams handled major crimes of violence, including aggravated murder, adult and child sex offenses, domestic violence, narcotics trafficking, vehicular homicide, and officer-involved shootings.
Williams received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Washington State University in 1981 and his law degree from the Willamette University College of Law in 1989.