Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1463, which my colleague and good friend, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis), introduced to recognize the important contributions Justin W.…
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1463, which my colleague and good friend, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis), introduced to recognize the important contributions Justin W. Williams made to justice and freedom in our society.
The gentleman from Virginia (Chairman Davis) is in a markup in the full committee and asked if I would come over to read this statement to represent him.
Justice Williams was born in New York City in 1942, earned a Bachelor's Degree, as was said, from Columbia University in 1963 and a law degree from UVA in 1967.
After law school, he worked for the Department of Justice Criminal Division from 1967 through 1968, then served as Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney in Arlington County from 1968 to 1970.
His career as a Federal prosecutor began on May 11, 1970. During the ensuing 33 years he was either directly involved or supervised every major Federal prosecution in the Eastern District of Virginia; and, as Members know, that is one the more difficult districts in the country.
Mr. Williams was appointed Acting United States Attorney on two occasions, June, 1979, to November, 1981, and January, 1986, to June, 1986.
He was also at various times First Assistant United States Attorney, Senior Litigation Counsel and, for most of his career, Chief of the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
As Chief of the Criminal Division, Justin Williams supervised over 100
prosecutors and oversaw such high-profile trials as U.S. vs. Aldrich Ames, Aldrich Ames, a spy from the CIA who sold out his government; U.S. vs. Robert Hanssen, Robert Hanssen, an FBI agent who sold out his government to the Soviet Union, both of whom were convicted for spying for the Soviet Union.
He also led the prosecution of the Virginia Jihad Network.
His many accomplishments, far too numerous to list, include the Attorney General's Award for Excellence in furthering the Interest of the United States National Security, Section 2002, as well as three Director's Awards for Superior Performance as an Assistant United States Attorney.
On August 31, 2003, Mr. Williams died tragically at the age of 61 from an apparent heart attack as he jogged along the Potomac River in Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia, leaving his wife, Suzanne, and children Andrew and Caitlin.
His untimely death marked the end of a career of a truly remarkable public servant who was loved and respected by all his colleagues and those who had the pleasure of knowing him.
Mr. Williams was revered as a mentor and role model, and his legacy will serve as a testimonial to courage, conviction, fairness and decency.
Madam Speaker, we owe Justin Williams and his family and all those in the legal field who have chosen a career in public service a debt of gratitude.
I urge my colleagues to forever remember Justin Williams and keep a record in our mind and in our hearts as we pass by the building. And on behalf of the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis), Chairman Davis, I urge the support of this and will supply the statement for the record.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1463, which my colleague and good friend Tom Davis introduced to recognize the important contributions Justin W. Williams made to justice and freedom in our society.
Justin W. Williams was born in New York City in 1942. He earned his Bachelor's Degree from Columbia University in 1963 and his law degree from the University of Virginia in 1967. After law school, he worked for the Department of Justice, Criminal Division from 1967-1968, then served as Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney in Arlington County from 1968-1970.
Mr. Williams' career as a Federal prosecutor began on May 11, 1970. During the ensuing 33 years he was either directly involved in or supervised every major federal prosecution in the Eastern District of Virginia. Mr. Williams was appointed Acting United States Attorney on two occasions, June 1979 to November 1981 and January 1986 to June 1986. He was also at various times First Assistant United States Attorney, Senior Litigation Counsel, and for most of his illustrious career Chief of the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. As Chief of the Criminal Division, Justin Williams supervised over 100 prosecutors, and oversaw such high profile trials as U.S. v. Aldrich Ames, U.S. v. Robert Hanssen, both of whom were convicted of spying for the Soviet Union. He also led the prosecution of the Virginia Jihad Network.
His many accomplishments and awards, far too numerous to list, included the Attorney General's Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interest of the United States National Security (2002), as well as three Directors' Awards for Superior Performance as an Assistant United States Attorney.
On August 31, 2003, Mr. Williams died tragically at the age of 61 from an apparent heart attack as he jogged along the Potomac River in Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia, leaving his wife Suzanne and children Andrew and Caitlin. His untimely death marked the end of a career of a truly remarkable public servant who was loved and respected by all of his colleagues and those who had the pleasure of knowing him. Mr. Williams was revered as a mentor and role model and his legacy will serve as a testimonial to courage, conviction, fairness, and decency.
Madam Speaker, we owe Justin Williams, and all those in the legal field who have chosen a career in public service a debt of gratitude. I urge all my colleagues to forever remember Justin Williams and to keep a record in our minds, and in our hearts, of the great sacrifices made by all men and women in the legal community who have served and continue to serve our great Nation.
I thank the Virginia delegation for their support of this resolution and I ask all members to support H.R. 1463.
