Karen Eady-Williams

Eady-Williams has over 30 years of legal experience. Before becoming a district court and superior court judge, she served as an assistant public defender, an assistant U.S. district attorney and an in-house attorney for Wachovia (now Wells Fargo). In July 2020, she received threats after signing a temporary restraining order limiting the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's use of chemical agents in controlling protests. 

Review of Candidate Rulings (Source: Wake Forest University School of Law Pro Bono Project)

Eady-Williams judicial philosophy is defined by a focus on the facts of the case, the application of established legal principles, and deference to the judgment of Law Enforcement Officers. These principles of her approach to her role in the legal system are best seen through her unwillingness to expand legal doctrines based on convenience and focus on the facts of each individual case and their role in shaping her rulings. A review of appellate decisions identified four cases in which Eady-Williams's orders were at least partially reversed or vacated on appeal.