James R. Williams is an attorney at DeFur Voran LLP.  His primary practice areas are litigation, mediation, banking law, and education law.  Jim is Ball State University's legal counsel for education law. Jim practiced law with White & Raub in Indianapolis from 1991 through 1994. He joined DeFur Voran in 1994 until 1997. Jim then served as judge of the Union County Circuit Court from 1998-2004 and since then continues to serve as Senior Judge. He returned to DeFur Voran in January of 2005. Jim is both a certified Civil Mediator and is registered as a private judge by the Indiana Division of State Court Administration.

Jim has written many articles and lectures quite frequently.  He is the lecturer and contributing author for "Judges in the Historical Arena," Indiana Judicial Center, 2004; "Indiana's Landlord-Tenant Law-A Survey," ICLEF Seminar, 2003; "Conflicts of Interest and a Brief Survey of Other Ethical Considerations for Indiana Lawyers," ICLEF Seminar, 2002.

Jim earned his A.B., summa cum laude, from Wabash College in 1988 and his J.D., cum laude, from Indiana University in 1991 and received the Forrest E.  Jump Memorial Scholarship.

Jim is admitted to practice law in the Supreme Court of Indiana, the U. S. District Court, the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, and the U. S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.  He is a member of the Muncie Bar Association, Indiana State Bar Association and Indiana Judges Association.

Locally, Jim is active in the Rotary, the United Way of Delaware County, and is a Board Member for the Habitat for Humanity.