[1] He graduated from Woodward Academy, in College Park, Georgia, and attended Tulane University on a football scholarship, where he was elected class president 4 times.

[3] He served as the at-large Division 2 member of the New Orleans City Council from his swearing in on March 15, 2014[4][5] until his resignation on January 11, 2021, to assume his position as district attorney.

[9] Williams campaigned to reform the district attorney’s office, which faced accusations of excessive prosecutions.

[10] His policies are in stark contrast to those of his predecessor, Leon Cannizzaro, who held a more traditional "tough on crime" approach as district attorney.

[11][12][13] After a rise in 701 release cases and related crimes like carjackings, some members of the public called for Williams’ resignation.

[14][15][16] Williams did not step down, but called a press conference to address “701 releases,” an article in State Criminal Court that gives defendants the right to a speedy trial.