Judge Peter M. Williams: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

The Hon. Peter M. Williams is a judge for Sacramento County Superior Court in California. In 2023 Governor Newsom appointed Williams to serve as a Sacramento Superior Court judge. Previously he served as a judge in Yolo County Superior Court from 2018 through 2023. When he was appointed to Yolo County Superior Court he filled the vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Steven M. Basha.

He is a registered Democrat.

Judge Williams received his B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1991. He went on to earn his J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1995.

After graduating from law school, Williams began the first part of his legal career in private practice. During that time, he worked as an associate at the law firms of Bolling, Walter, and Gawthrop (1996 to 1998), Carle, Mackie, Power, and Ross (1998 to 2000), and Boutin Jones Inc. (2000 to 2001).

He then entered the public arena in 2001, when he joined the California Department of Justice's Office of the Attorney General. During his fourteen-year tenure there, Williams held several positions including serving as the supervisor of the A.G.'s Fraud and Special Prosecutions Unit as well as serving as a cross-designated special federal prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney's Office for both the Eastern and Central Districts of California. Williams left the A.G.'s office in 2016 to serve as the deputy secretary and general counsel for the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. He remained in that capacity until his appointment to the Superior Court two years later.

During his time on the bench, Judge Williams has presided in the Civil, Probate, and Small Claims Divisions.