Ms. Shermela Jarmez Williams
Fulton County Superior Court
Judge Shermela J. Williams was elected to the Fulton County Superior Court in June 2020, in a history making election, wherein she unseated an incumbent gubernatorial appointee. Such a feat had not been accomplished in Fulton County since 1996. Judge Williams has wanted to be a judge since she was a child, and thanks to the voters, she is living her dream. Judge Williams is currently assigned to the Criminal/Civil Division (General Jurisdiction) of Superior Court. Judge Williams previously served as the Chief Judge of the Family Division.
Prior to coming to the bench, Judge Williams had a distinguished career with approximately 15 years of hands-on litigation and trial experience. Judge Williams was a prosecutor, criminal defense attorney, plaintiff and civil defense lawyer; in addition to representing parties on both sides in family law matters. Judge Williams tried over 25 jury trials and hundreds of bench trial during her career. A former law clerk with the United States Department of Justice, Judge Williams has worked with various high-profile civil law firms and non-profit organizations. She was a Senior Litigation Associate at Thomas Kennedy Sampson & Tompkins LLP (“TKST”), specializing in premises liability, negligent security, personal injury, and high stakes litigation cases. Prior to joining TKST, she was a Senior Assistant District Attorney with the Fulton County, DeKalb County, and the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Offices. In said capacities, she prosecuted complex felony cases, including: Murder, Rape, Armed Robbery, Aggravated Assault/Battery, Burglary, Aggravated Child Molestation, Aggravated Sexual Battery and other crimes. Judge Williams served as the director of the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office’s Domestic Violence Task Force and was a member of the Fulton County Gender Equality Initiative Panel. In 2012, she received the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office Trial Court Lawyer of the Year and Trial Court Best All-Around Lawyer awards. In 2018, Judge Williams was selected a Lawyer to Watch by Attorney-At-Law magazine and Mentor of the Year by The Daily Report in 2019. She also received the We All Value Excellence (W.A.V.E) Community Service Award in 2023.
Judge Shermela J. Williams is a proud native of Atlanta, GA who volunteers her time and talents to her community. Judge Williams was an Adjunct Professor at Spelman College for over a decade. Judge Williams ran youth leadership programs for five years, wherein she taught and oversaw conferences, as well as developed GirlsLead – a program geared towards arming young ladies for what they are sure to face ahead; educating them on etiquette, self-esteem, leadership, self-image, debunking media stereotypes, branding, goal setting, and other issues specific to today’s women. She received her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center, and her Bachelor of Arts from Howard University. She is a member of a host of civic, community and professional organizations. Judge Williams is a member of the Gate City Bar Association, Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (GABWA), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and a 2015 alumna of Lead Atlanta. Judge Williams is also a member of IMPACT United Methodist Church where she serves as a Worship Facilitator, Care Team Member, Experience Team Member, and in various other leadership and volunteer capacities. Judge Williams’ interests include traveling, writing, cooking, “restaurant-hopping”, anything that makes her laugh, and spending time with loved ones.
