Federal prosecutor receives lifetime achievement award

Assistant U.S. Attorney C.J. Williams received a highly regarded lifetime achievement award this week during the Judicial Conference for the federal 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Williams, the senior litigation attorney with the Northern District, was nominated by the district judges for the Richard S. Arnold Award for Distinguished Public Service and Lifetime Achievement. The 8th Circuit Bar Association recognized Williams and nine other 'outstanding attorneys,' one from each judicial district within the circuit, during a conference luncheon Thursday in Omaha, Neb.

The judges nominated Williams for his 'zeal, professionalism, and lifelong commitment to the ideal of justice.' They noted his thoughtfulness, independence, and creativity in and out of the courtroom, along with his commitment to fairness and the high regard and respect of his colleagues.

'C.J. Williams is the hardest working, best prepared, and most highly skilled trial lawyer I have ever had appear before me,' U.S. District Judge Mark Bennett said Friday. 'He is also the consummate professional and exudes civility and unsurpassed integrity. I wish science had advanced to the point of being able to clone him.'

U.S. Attorney Kevin Techau said Williams devotes his 'considerable talent' and energy to seeking justice in every case, whether high profile or routine.

'C.J. is a dogged investigator, an outstanding trial lawyer and a very worthy recipient of the Richard S. Arnold Award,' Techau said.

Williams said Friday during a phone interview he was humbled by the honor and sees it as a challenge to live up to this prestigious award.

'I don't see the work I've done any different from anyone else (in the office),' Williams said. 'I was surprised and grateful to the judges (for the nomination).'

The award was more special for Williams because his friend and highly respected colleague, Nick Drees, a former federal public defender who died in 2011, was the posthumous recipient in 2013. He and Drees clerked together for federal Judge Donald E. O'Brien.

Williams received his bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa College of Business Administration and his law degree from the UI College of Law. During his career, he spent several years at the U.S. Department of Justice and five years in private practice.

In 1997, Williams became an assistant U.S. Attorney and has been the lead prosecutor in hundreds of felony cases involving fraud, money laundering, environmental offenses, drugs, immigration and human trafficking. He also has argued many cases before the 8th Circuit.

In 2009, Williams began serving on the U.S. Attorney General's Capital Case Review Committee, and in 2010-11 he served on the Capital Case Unit, which assists on capital cases in multiple judicial districts. He also has taught for many years at the U.S. Department of Justice National Advocacy Center and at the UI law school.

Williams has been honored with many awards over the years from the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.

The recent award is named after U.S. 8th Circuit Chief Judge Richard S. Arnold, who led a distinguished career that included graduating first in his class at Yale University and Harvard Law School. Arnold clerked for Supreme Court Justice William Brennan before entering private practice and serving on the 8th Circuit.