District Attorney Seth Williams Show

On November 3rd, 2009 Seth Williams decisive victory at the polls made history not only in Philadelphia but in the state of Pennsylvania.  With more than 75 percent of the vote Seth became the first African American District Attorney in the city of brotherly love and in the entire commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Seth Williams is a true Philadelphia success story.  Given up by an unwed mother and placed in foster care, Seth was blessed to be adopted by a devoted and loving family. He grew up in a hard-working West Philadelphia neighborhood, the only child of Imelda Williams and the late Rufus O. Williams who emphasized the importance of community service his whole life.

A proud Philadelphian, Seth’s long list of accomplishments started at a very young age. After graduating from Central High School in 1985, Seth attended Penn State University where he served as President of the Black Caucus and later as President of the Undergraduate Student Government, representing all 57,000 undergraduate students.

From Penn State, Seth was on to law school at Georgetown University, where he graduated with distinction as a Public Interest Law Scholar in 1992.

After graduation Seth’s dedication to public service brought him home to Philadelphia, where he joined the District Attorney’s Office.

In the ten years he served as an Assistant District Attorney, Seth was repeatedly promoted, including his appointment as the Assistant Chief of the Municipal Court, where he supervised the 30 newest prosecutors. He also created and led the Repeat Offenders Unit with the goal of reducing the high percentage of crimes committed by repeat offenders. His extensive trial experience includes 37 jury trials, more than 1,500 bench trials and more than 2,500 felony preliminary hearings.

In 2005, Seth challenged Lynn Abraham, Philadelphia’s longtime incumbent District Attorney, in the Democratic primary. While not victorious on Election Day, Seth won 46 percent of the vote and received endorsements from the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5, the Transit Workers Union Local234, District Council #47, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia Tribune, the Philadelphia Sunday Sun and the Westside Weekly. Following the election, Seth was appointed Inspector General of the City of Philadelphia. As Inspector General, Seth was responsible for the investigation of all allegations of corruption, fraud, waste, abuse and employee misconduct among municipal workers and companies doing business with the city. Seth left the position of Inspector General in 2008 with praise from Mayor Michael Nutter for his groundbreaking work as the city’s municipal corruption watchdog. Seth went on to take a position as counsel at the Center City law firm of Stradley, Ronon, Stevens & Young.

Seth continues to serve his community as an educator and volunteer. He is an adjunct professor at Neumann College in the Strategic Leadership Master’s Program and is an adjunct professor and Advisory Board member at Penn State Abington. Seth is also proud to serve his country as a Major in the Judge Advocate General Corps of the United States Army Reserve. Seth is also proud to serve on the boards of several community organizations, including the Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the Overbrook Park Civic Association & Town Watch, St. Cyprian Catholic Church, the St. Martin de Porres Foundation and the West Philadelphia Y.M.C.A.

Seth lives in West Philadelphia with his wife Sonita, and is the proud parent of three girls-Alyssia, Taylor and Hope.