Louisiana pays $52k to woman who says former New Orleans judge groped her

Byron C. Williams retains judicial retirement benefits despite being suspended for 18 months


An executive assistant in the Orleans Criminal District Court said she was sitting at her desk talking to the state office that handles employee health care benefits over the phone, when she felt someone else’s finger creep up her side and start touching the middle of her chest. She jumped, looked up and saw then-Judge Byron C. Williams running out of the room.

Moments later, while she was still on the phone with the same state office, the woman said she felt a hand cup her breast and start rubbing upwards. Once again, she was startled, looked up and saw Williams running out of the room for a second time, according to lawsuits the woman filed in state and federal court.

The alleged misconduct took place in July of 2017, the woman said. Williams, who resigned last year, has denied it occurred at all.

But in July of 2020, the state of Louisiana agreed to pay the woman $52,500 in order to avoid a courtroom battle over Williams’ behavior and, more broadly, whether the Orleans Criminal District Court did enough to address his alleged behavior.

Read more: https://lailluminator.com/2021/03/26/louisiana-pays-52k-to-woman-who-says-former-new-orleans-judge-groped-her/