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Phyllis R. Williams is an Associate Judge in the Magistrate Court of DeKalb County. 

Phyllis graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Music with a concentration in Piano Performance (yes, she is a classically trained musician). She worked in the insurance industry in Philadelphia, PA, before attending law school at Florida State University College of Law.  

Phyllis began her legal career at Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers, practicing insurance defense in automobile and property litigation. After leaving insurance defense, Phyllis started her own firm and was a trial attorney for about 25 years. She has tried complex divorces, auto collisions, premises liability, products liability, contract disputes and criminal defense matters. “I believe that everyone is entitled to zealous representation, even if they cannot afford it.”  To that end Phyllis was a court appointed attorney in Fulton superior and state courts, and DeKalb superior, state and juvenile courts for about 11 years representing clients in trial and  on appeals, and she has argued before the Supreme Court of Georgia. In 2017, she merged her firm with Fox Legal, LLC where she serves as Of-Counsel”. In addition to her practice, Phyllis was an adjunct professor at Georgia State University School of Business, and She is an Administrative Hearing Officer for the DeKalb Merit System presiding over administrative appeal hearings. She is active in the Magistrate Court Training Council, where she serves on the Curriculum Committee and trains new Judges around the State. 

Phyllis is a member Stonewall Bar Association, International Association of LGBTQ+ Judges, Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (GABWA), Georgia Association of Women Attorney’s (GAWL), Gate City Bar Association, Atlanta Bar Association, DeKalb Lawyers Association, and  DeKalb Bar Association where she served on the Board of Directors for 6 years. Phyllis has also served on the Board of Directors for the South DeKalb YWCA and is a graduate of Leadership DeKalb (2003) and the Leadership DeKalb Beacon Society. 

Phyllis loves to cook, play racquetball competitively, and travel the world.  “I want to see as much of this planet as I can before I leave it!”