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Former New Orleans Criminal Court Judge Byron Williams has had his law license suspended for a year and one day by the Louisiana Supreme Court after the court concluded an investigation that Williams has engaged in the unwelcoming touching of several women.

This decision comes after two years since his resignation from the Orleans Parish Criminal Court and five years since the allegations first came to light.

Court documents state "The Office of Disciplinary Counsel commenced an investigation into allegations that while respondent was serving as a judge, he engaged in the unwelcome touching of several women and acted inappropriately in the courtroom"

WDSU first reported in May 2018 that the public defender in Orleans Parish had concerns over Williams' courtroom behavior concerning women.

His attorney, Ernest Jones, issued a statement back in 2018 on behalf of Williams in which he referred to his client's removal from the bench as a leave of absence and that Williams continues to deny the allegations.

"In light of the recently publicized allegations against him, Judge Byron C. Williams, New Orleans Criminal District Court, Section G, has requested that the Louisiana Supreme Court grant him a leave of absence. Judge Williams has always, and continues to deny the allegations against him and vows to fight them until he is cleared.

"Judge Williams believes in the judicial system and the judiciary’s process of resolving complaints. Because he is not guilty, he is confident that his name will ultimately be cleared. Judge Williams has asked for the leave of absence because he does not want the situation to negatively affect public confidence in the judicial system by permitting any future decisions made by him in court to be scrutinized as potentially self-serving or in aid of his defense."

In May 2018, WDSU Investigates obtained a letter sent by Orleans Parish Chief Public Defender Derwyn Bunton outlining Williams' alleged behavior during a May 4 session of drug court.

The letter, signed by Bunton and sent to Keva Landrum-Johnson, the chief judge of the court, notes that the public defender's office may be seeking "additional actions," but does not specify what those actions may be.

In the letter, Bunton said that as Williams began to give his introductory speech to the people attending drug court, a female OPD attorney entered the courtroom.

The letter states, "Judge Williams noticed her, and excitedly told her to come in while grabbing her by the arm and pulling her to his side. Williams then placed his arm around her back/shoulder area."

The letter goes on to say: "Williams directed the audience's attention to the attorney's appearance. He asked them to notice how well-dressed she is, how attractive she is, and what a good size she is. "

The letter states that the judge told an unrelated story of a drug court participant who gave birth in jail. That woman was in the courtroom, according to the letter.

The letter says Williams made the woman stand up inside the jury box where she was sitting and "asked the audience to compare her appearance to the OPD attorney's appearance."

"He told the audience to note the difference in their sizes and how unhealthy the woman in the box looks," the letter states.

The letter says later in the day, another woman walked in and Williams asked her if she was there for drug court or regular court.

The letter states that Williams told the woman she looks like she needs drug court and made her come in.

"When she took offense, he said he was just 'being real' and that's life, we have to help each other out."

Jones issued the following statement on behalf of Williams in May of 2018: "His intent is to help drug court and the people attending. Nobody expressed any dissatisfaction or raised a complaint at the time. (Williams) did not intend to insult anyone, and if that's the case, he's willing to apologize. If anyone is offended, he will apologize.

"His goal is to use real-life examples to help the people attending drug court."

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