State of Ohio - On Fri. Oct. 7, 2022, the Ohio State Bar Foundation (OSBF) recognized the Hon. Annalisa S. Williams for her leadership through her volunteer service both in and outside of the legal profession. She received the Ritter Award at the 2022 All Rise Annual Awards Celebration at the Exchange at Bridge Park in Dublin, Ohio.
“Our honorees have made extraordinary contributions in changing lives, while furthering the Foundation’s mission of teaching the public about the rule of law and building a better justice system,” said Lori L. Keating, OSBF Executive Director. “They exemplify the best volunteer attorneys and organizations that Ohio has to offer, and we are proud to celebrate them for their achievements.”
The Hon. Annalisa S. Williams | The Ritter Award (2022)
With a lifetime of service within the Akron community, the larger public, and the legal profession, Judge Williams exemplifies every aspect of the Ritter Award, the highest honor awarded by the Foundation. The OSBF’s Ritter Award recognizes the accomplishments of the honoree in attaining and promoting the highest level of professionalism, integrity, and ethics in the practice of law.
“Judge Annalisa Williams is well-respected, smart, kind, generous and trustworthy. Simply stated, she is an amazing, unique individual with a remarkable professional demeanor who plays an important role in our community,” stated Judge Williams' nominator in a letter to the awards committee. “I can think of no one more deserving to be considered for the Ritter Award than Judge Williams.”
A judge at the Akron Municipal Court, Judge Williams is passionate about helping persons suffering from mental illness face their unique challenges within the criminal justice system. Her work presiding over the Mental Health Court has led to its designation as one of five original learning sites by the Bureau of Justice and Assistance and the Council of State Governments. Judge Williams has also developed additional programs within the Akron Municipal Court, including the Reading Advancement Program and the Peace of Mind Program, which earned the Ohio State Bar Association's 2018 Innovative Court Programs and Practices Award.
Judge Williams is as committed to the community as she is to work on the bench. She serves on non-profit boards, judicial task forces, professional organizations, and community and civic boards. She has been honored with numerous humanitarian and community service awards for her service to the legal profession. In addition, Judge Williams was selected as the Kent State University Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni Award recipient in 2020 and received the Centennial Akron Law Outstanding Alumni Distinction Award in 2022.
Judge Williams graduated with honors from Kent State University with a B.A. in Political Science. She received her M.A. from The University of Akron in Urban Studies and her law degree from The University of Akron School of Law.
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