--- title: "Mary Ellen Coster Williams | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mary-ellen-coster-williams-10136" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Mary Ellen Coster Williams United States Court of Federal Claims · U.S. Court of Federal Claims Judge ## Profile - Court: United States Court of Federal Claims - State: National federal courts - Role: U.S. Court of Federal Claims Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, United States Court of Federal Claims, 2003-present - Retired American federal judge who served on the United States Court of Federal Claims for 20 years, from 2003 until her retirement in July 2023 - She held a position as an associate at Fulbright & Jaworski (1977–1979) and Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis (1979–1983), then as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Civil Division of the DOJ (1983–1987) - In summary: Mary Ellen Coster Williams is a distinguished federal judge and mediator, recognized for her 20-year service on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, her leadership in bar associations, and her ongoing contributions to dispute resolution nationwide ### Education - B.A. and M.A. in Latin from Catholic University in 1974, and a J.D. from Duke University School of Law in 1977. - The Catholic University of America ### Additional information - She assumed senior status on July 13, 2018, and retired on July 31, 2023. - Appointed to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims by President George W. Bush on July 21, 2003, after Senate confirmation in July 2003. - Joined the court in 2003 after being nominated by President George W. Bush. - Before her judicial role, Williams served 14 years as an administrative judge on the General Services Administration Board of Contract Appeals (1989–2003), resolving federal government contract and personnel cases. - Born April 3, 1953, in New York City. - Date of birth: 1953 - The Court of Federal Claims handles complex, high-value cases such as government contract disputes, intellectual property claims, Fifth Amendment takings, tax disputes, and vaccine injury claims. - Birth place: Flushing ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### motion form Scope: courtwide Request a court order by motion. The motion must be written unless made during a hearing or trial, state the grounds with particularity, and state the relief sought. Evidence excerpt: The motion must: (A) be in writing unless made during a hearing or trial; (B) state with particularity the grounds for seeking the order; and (C) state the relief sought. [Rules of the United States Court of Federal Claims](https://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/sites/cfc/files/Rules%207.27.2026.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### supporting materials Scope: courtwide A motion, objection, or response may be accompanied by a brief or memorandum and, when needed, supporting affidavits. Evidence excerpt: Any motion, objection, or response may be accompanied by a brief or memorandum and, if necessary, affidavits supporting the motion. [Rules of the United States Court of Federal Claims](https://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/sites/cfc/files/Rules%207.27.2026.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### meet and confer Scope: courtwide Before filing a nondispositive motion, make a reasonable good-faith effort to discuss it with opposing counsel, determine whether it is opposed, narrow disagreements, and include the required certification. Evidence excerpt: The motion must: (1) include a certification that the movant has in good faith conferred or attempted to confer with opposing counsel. [Rules of the United States Court of Federal Claims](https://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/sites/cfc/files/Rules%207.27.2026.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### trial testimony Scope: courtwide Trial testimony is taken in open court unless an identified rule or statute provides otherwise. Remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause, compelling circumstances, and appropriate safeguards. Evidence excerpt: For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location. [Rules of the United States Court of Federal Claims](https://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/sites/cfc/files/Rules%207.27.2026.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/10136/mary-ellen-coster-williams/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/10136/mary-ellen-coster-williams/) - [United States Court of Federal Claims current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/10136/mary-ellen-coster-williams/) - [Rules of the United States Court of Federal Claims](https://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/sites/cfc/files/Rules%207.27.2026.pdf) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/10136/mary-ellen-coster-williams/) - [U.S. Court of Federal Claims: Williams, Mary Ellen Coster | Federal Judicial Center](https://www.fjc.gov/history/courts/us-court-federal-claims-williams-mary-ellen-coster) - [Mary Ellen Coster Williams - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mary_Ellen_Coster_Williams) - [Wikidata: Mary Ellen Coster Williams](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16185667) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mary-ellen-coster-williams-10136", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mary-ellen-coster-williams-10136", "name": "Mary Ellen Coster Williams | KnowJudges", "description": "Mary Ellen Coster Williams, United States Court of Federal Claims. 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