Phillip W. Williams Jr. was sworn in on Thursday as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama following his nomination by President Donald Trump and confirmation by the U.S. Senate.
Williams took the oath of office from Chief U.S. District Judge Madeline H. Haikala and now assumes leadership of Alabama’s largest federal judicial district, which covers 31 counties and includes Birmingham, Huntsville and Tuscaloosa.
As U.S. Attorney, Williams will oversee federal criminal prosecutions and civil litigation involving the United States throughout a district that serves approximately 59% of Alabama’s population. The district is also home to one of the largest Department of Justice footprints outside Washington, D.C., anchored by the FBI’s growing presence at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville.
“This is an incredible honor,” Williams said. “I am deeply grateful for my God equipping me for this day, and I appreciate President Trump and the members of the Senate who have made this dream a reality. I look forward to serving my state and nation as U.S. Attorney and pledge that I will do all that is possible to ensure that justice is applied fairly and consistently.”
Williams said his military service reinforced his belief in the importance of the rule of law.
“I have a deep love for the rule of law, and all the more so for having seen firsthand how craven and erratic a society can become when the rule of law is abandoned or neglected,” he said.
Williams succeeds Prim Escalona, who has led the Northern District since 2020.
A Gadsden attorney with more than two decades of legal experience, Williams previously served as managing member of the law firm Williams, Driskill, Huffstutler & King. He has appeared in hundreds of court proceedings and tried more than 30 cases to verdict during his legal career.
In addition to his legal practice, Williams founded and served as president of Rightside Media, where he hosted the syndicated conservative talk program “Rightside Radio” and wrote opinion columns distributed across the region.
Williams also served two terms in the Alabama Senate from 2010 to 2018. During his tenure, he chaired the Senate Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development and served as vice chair of the Judiciary Committee.
A decorated military veteran, Williams retired from the U.S. Army Reserve in 2017 with the rank of colonel after a 30-year career. An Airborne Ranger-qualified officer, he served combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon’s Special Operations Division. His final troop-leading assignment was as commander of the 1st Battalion, 167th Infantry Regiment.
Following his confirmation, U.S. Sen. Katie Britt praised the appointment.
“Today, I joined many of my Senate colleagues in voting to confirm President Trump’s nominee to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, Phil Williams,” Britt (R-Montgomery) said. “U.S. Attorneys play a critical role in ensuring the Department of Justice faithfully executes the law, keeps criminals off our streets, and ensures public safety across the country.”
Williams earned a Bachelor of Science degree from University of South Alabama and a Juris Doctor from Birmingham School of Law.
Upon his nomination last fall, Williams emphasized the importance of collaboration between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
“Federal prosecutors must be partners, not spectators,” Williams said. “We will work closely with sheriffs, police departments and district attorneys to bring the full weight of the justice system against violent crime, public corruption and those who prey on the vulnerable.”
