elevation to the Seventh Circuit. On August 5, 1999, President Bill Clinton nominated Williams to fill a vacancy on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit caused by the retirement of Judge Walter J. Cummings Jr. Williams was unanimously confirmed by the Senate in a voice vote on November 10, 1999, making her the first judge of color on the Seventh Circuit and the third woman of color to serve on any United States Court of Appeals. She received her commission on November 15, 1999. She assumed senior status on June 5, 2017, and retired on January 16, 2018. In 2007, Williams dissented when the circuit held that failing to report to jail is itself a violent felony. Williams was mentioned by some media outlets as a possible choice for nomination to the Supreme Court to replace retiring Justice David Souter in 2009 and to replace Justice John Paul Stevens in 2010. Awards Williams was awarded the 2008 Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award by the American Bar Association. In 2010, Williams became a recipient of the 28th Annual Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award. It is awarded by the American Judicature Society to U.S. federal judges "whose careers have been exemplary, measured by their significant contributions to the administration of justice, the advancement of the rule of law, and the improvement of society as a whole." Political views In an article in the Chicago Tribune on December 11, 1999, Williams declined to say whether she is a Republican or a Democrat, instead calling herself politically independent: "I've written on thousands of cases across the board, and I think it would be hard to type me," she said. "I don't think there is a type. I am not in Congress. We don't legislate in the courts." However, she also stated that she won't forget her roots or let her judicial robe "get in the way of my humanity". See also Barack Obama Supreme Court candidates List of African-American federal judges List of African-American jurists List of first women lawyers and judges in Illinois References External links Papers of Ann C. Williams, 1940-2019.Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University. 1949 births Living people African-American judges Assistant United States Attorneys Delta Sigma Theta members John Marshall Law School (Chicago) faculty Judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit Judges of the United States