Mary Ellen Coster Williams

Mary Ellen Coster Williams (born April 3, 1953) is a former judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims, appointed to that court in 2003 by President George W. Bush. Early life, education, and career Born and raised in Flushing, New York, Williams received a Bachelor of Arts in Latin and Greek and a Master of Arts in Latin, summa cum laude, from Catholic University in 1974. She received a Juris Doctor from the Duke University School of Law in 1977, having served on the editorial board of the Duke Law Journal. Williams was an associate with Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis from 1979 to 1983 and with Fulbright & Jaworski from 1977 to 1979. She served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Civil Division of the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., from 1983 until 1987. From 1987 to 1989, Williams was a partner in the law firm of Janis, Schuelke and Weschler, focusing on civil litigation. From March 6, 1989 to July 18, 2003, Williams served as an administrative judge on the General Services Administration Board of Contract Appeals, where she resolved federal government contract cases. Federal judicial service Williams was appointed to the United States Court of Federal Claims on July 21, 2003 by President George W. Bush. She assumed senior status on July 13, 2018. She retired on July 31, 2023.