In March 2011, the radio program This American Life broadcast an episode titled "Very Tough Love" about various cases heard in Williams's drug court.
The show described how Williams's judgments violated the philosophy of drug courts by using indefinite jail terms and an overly punitive approach.
[6][9][10] Criticism of Williams following the show included claims that at times she imposed indefinite stays in jail and other excessively punitive sentences contrary to principles supported by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.
[14] In response to Oedel's threat to sue for defamation, the show's lawyers defended Glass and asserted that Williams's conduct "is certainly a matter of keen public interest".
[17] On February 22, 2012, the woman whose case prompted Glass to investigate and broadcast the episode was released from probation by Glynn County Magistrate Timothy Barton, who replaced Williams.
"[18] On November 9, 2011, the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) filed a 14-count ethics complaint against Williams, alleging she had incarcerated defendants indefinitely, made false statements, and engaged in nepotism and "tyrannical partiality".
[22] Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens appointed a special prosecutor to determine if Williams should face felony criminal charges for allegedly lying to JQC investigators.
[26] Charges against Williams were dropped in May 2017 with the consent and consultation of Ms. Dills who was the person whose story of was told in "Very Tough Love" after a law was changed disallowing the practice of secretly recording a judge's statements.