The new U.S. Attorney for north Alabama is a Gadsden lawyer who once represented Etowah County

GADSDEN – The federal prosecutor responsible for every federal case in Etowah County practiced law in Gadsden for more than two decades and represented this county in the Alabama Senate.

Phillip W. Williams Jr. was sworn in May 28 as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama. He was nominated by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the Senate, and Chief U.S. District Judge Madeline H. Haikala administered the oath in Birmingham.

Most people here know him as Phil Williams.

What does the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District do?

The office prosecutes federal crimes and handles civil cases in which the United States has a legal interest. That covers things local district attorneys do not: federal drug and firearms cases, public corruption, tax and wire fraud, civil rights prosecutions, and cases that cross county or state lines.

The Northern District is the largest of Alabama’s three federal districts. It spans 31 of the state’s 67 counties and roughly 59 percent of the population, with courthouses in Birmingham, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Florence and Anniston.

Etowah County sits inside it. So when a case here goes federal, it lands in his office.

The term runs four years. Williams succeeded John E. Town, whose term had expired.

Who is Phil Williams?

Before the appointment, Williams was managing member of Williams, Driskill, Huffstutler & King, a Gadsden-based law firm. He has practiced law for more than 20 years and holds an AV-Preeminent peer rating.

He lives in Rainbow City.

Williams served two terms in the Alabama Senate, from 2010 to 2018, representing District 10. He chaired the Senate Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development and was vice chair of the Judiciary Committee, where he sponsored criminal justice and ethics legislation.

The senator who followed him in that seat is Andrew Jones, who was in Hokes Bluff this summer presenting Coosa Valley RC&D grants to nine Etowah County projects.

Williams is also a familiar voice. He was president and senior on-air talent for Rightside Media, hosting the syndicated conservative talk program Rightside Radio, and worked as a syndicated opinion writer and on-air contributor to national news networks. He later worked as an executive at the Alabama Policy Institute.

He is a retired Army officer. He served from 1987 to 2017, with deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq.

He earned a bachelor of science from the University of South Alabama and a law degree from the Birmingham School of Law.

What has he said about the job?

At his swearing-in, Williams called the appointment an honor and framed the office around consistency.

“I look forward to serving my state and nation as U.S. Attorney and pledge that I will do all that is possible to ensure that justice is applied fairly and consistently,” Williams said.

He tied his approach to his military service. “I have a deep love for the rule of law, and all the more so for having seen firsthand how craven and erratic a society can become when the rule of law is abandoned or neglected,” he said.

Earlier, discussing the nomination, Williams described how he wanted the office to work with local agencies.

“Federal prosecutors must be partners, not spectators,” he said. “We will work closely with sheriffs, police departments and district attorneys to bring the full weight of the justice system against violent crime, public corruption and those who prey on the vulnerable.”

Why does this matter in Etowah County?

Two reasons, one practical and one about access.

The practical one is jurisdiction. Federal charges carry different sentencing rules than state charges, and the decision about whether a case goes federal is made in that office. Violent crime, trafficking, firearms and public corruption cases in this county can end up there.

The access one is proximity. It is unusual for a small county to have one of its own running a federal district. Williams practiced in Gadsden, served this county in Montgomery and lives in Rainbow City. Local law enforcement and local officials already know him.

Whether that translates into more attention for cases here is an open question, and one worth watching rather than assuming.

Ten weeks in, the practical effect is not yet visible from the outside. His office has announced promotions and organizational changes within the district, but what that means for case priorities in the smaller counties has not been spelled out publicly.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the U.S. Attorney for north Alabama? Phillip W. Williams Jr., sworn in May 28, 2026.

Is Etowah County in the Northern District? Yes. The district covers 31 of Alabama’s 67 counties.

Where is he from? He lives in Rainbow City and practiced law in Gadsden.

Did he hold office before? He served two terms in the Alabama Senate, 2010 to 2018, representing District 10.

How long is the term? Four years.

Where are the federal courthouses? Birmingham, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Florence and Anniston.

Read more Gadsden and Etowah County news from GadsdenThrive.