Charles Joseph Williams at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Court
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
- Jurisdiction
- Iowa · Federal
- Judicial service
- September 10, 2018–present
Charles Joseph Williams
Judge · U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
Available research
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Biography
Professional career
- Adjunct professor, University of South Dakota Law School, 2016-present
- Instructor, North Iowa Area Community College, 2008-2010
- Adjunct professor, University of Iowa College of Law, 2001-present
- Assistant U.S. attorney, Northern District of Iowa, 1997-2016
- Private practice, Kansas City, MO, 1992-1997
- Special assistant U.S. attorney (on detail), Eastern District of Virginia, 1991-1992
- Trial attorney, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 1990-1992
Judicial service
- Law Clerk, District Court, N.D. Iowa, 1988-1990
- Magistrate, District Court, N.D. Iowa, 2016-2018
- Judge, District Court, N.D. Iowa, 2018-present
Education
- University of Iowa · B.A., 1985
- University of Missouri-Kansas City · LL.M., 1997
- University of Iowa College of Law
- University of Missouri School of Law
Personal record
Born 1963 · Cedar Rapids, IA
Courtroom rules and guidance
Civil Remote Testimony
In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.
For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗
Criminal Recording And Broadcasting
Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.
Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗
Sources
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · checked July 25, 2026
https://www.fjc.gov/node/5197991CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8650/charles-joseph-williams/Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedureFederal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts