Williams’ investiture into local judiciary draws a crowd for latest step in a remarkable personal journey

If not “rags to riches” it was a “rags to judicial robes” story at the investiture of attorney Nancie Williams at a joint meeting of the Warren County Circuit and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court judiciaries at 4 p.m. Friday afternoon, June 17th. In front of family, friends, and a who’s who of area judiciary past and present, Williams was sworn in as a Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court judge. She will fill the seat being vacated by Daryl Funk, who is moving to Circuit Court in the Warren County Courthouse to replace retiring Judge William Sharp.

Judge William Sharp swears Nancie Williams into the judiciary. Below, Daryl Funk, standing, welcomes Williams to the bench as other judges including Sharp, Kellas, Emerson, and Kim Athey look on. Williams will fill Funk’s J&D Court seat as Funk moves into the Circuit Court seat vacated by Sharpe’s retirement at the end of the month. Further below, Williams offers her first observations from the bench. And finally a group Pond-Athey et al law firm reunion shot, from left, Warren Commonwealth Attorney John Bell, Judges ‘Clay’ Athey, Funk, Williams, and Kim Athey.

Overseeing legal protections, particularly of children in domestic situations, would seem a natural step in the legal career of Williams, whose early life included some familial instability that led to her and her sister’s oversight in area Social Services Departments, as described by several speakers and Williams herself, during the event that packed the older and grander Warren County Circuit Courtroom. Among those present were the aunt and uncle who eventually adopted Nancie and her sister, her own husband Arnold, and their two sons, among many other relatives and well-wishers.

That personal evolutionary aspect of Williams’ story, along with recollections of BAR associates of Williams’ influence and help in their careers, or work as Guardian ad Litems on cases in which Williams represented the legal interests of at-risk children, presented an unusually emotional aspect to the investiture ceremony.

Welcome to the bench, Nancie Williams.

Family and friends surround Judge Williams following the Investiture ceremony; below, husband Arnold and sons.