John Williams (English judge)

Sir John Williams (10 February 1777 – 15 September 1846) was an English  Whig politician, lawyer and judge, known for overseeing the 1830s trials of the Tolpuddle Martyrs (R v Lovelass and Others), and the Flash Female Button Makers Union.

John Williams was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. He was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Lincoln at a by-election in March 1822, and held the seat until the 1826 general election, when he was returned on 9 June for Ilchester. However, that result was overturned on 22 February 1827 after an election petition, and Williams did not return to the House of Commons until February 1830, when he was returned for Winchelsea at a by-election. He held that seat until the borough was disenfranchised at the 1832 general election.

He was made a King's Counsel in Easter Term 1827. On 28 February 1834 he was made a serjeant-at-law and raised to the bench as one of the puisne barons of the Court of Exchequer, succeeding Sir John Bayley; he was knighted on 16 April 1834. On 29 April 1834 he transferred to the Court of King's Bench as puisne justice, exchanging places with Sir James Parke. He died on 14 September 1846 and was succeeded by Sir William Erle.