CEPS William M. Hoeveler Ethics & Public Service Award Ceremony

Join the Center for Ethics and Public Service in honoring Judge Kathleen M. Williams, the 2026 recipient of the CEPS William M. Hoeveler Ethics & Public Service Award. Please register using the "Register" button above. The Honorable Kathleen M. Williams is a U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Florida. Since her appointment in 2011, Judge Williams has presided over some of the most complex and high-profile cases in South Florida, bringing to the bench a rare combination of experiences as a civil litigator and as both a Federal Prosecutor and the Federal Public Defender in the Southern District of Florida. Judge Williams has presided over a broad range of civil and criminal matters, and her judicial approach is characterized by diligence, independence, and a commitment to ensuring fair adjudication. Her long-standing public service, both in advocacy roles and on the bench, reflects a sustained commitment to justice, professionalism, and ethical conduct. Judge Williams earned her Bachelor of Arts (1978) from Duke University and her Juris Doctor (1982) from the University of Miami.