Starre Williams

Juvenile Justice Clinic

Starre Williams joined the Juvenile Justice Clinic (JJC) in her third year of law school, following a year representing young people in their education-related proceedings with the Youth Justice Education Clinic (YJEC). During her time with the JJC, Starre represented young people charged with committing offenses ranging from reckless driving to facing transfer to adult criminal court for violent offenses. Starre's approach in every case exemplified her dedication to her clients — the young people she worked with, and for. She took the time to get to know her clients, their families, their backgrounds and educational needs, and focused much of her advocacy on connecting young people to meaningful and appropriate services in the community.

One of Starre's shining moments in juvenile court was when she argued for dismissal of charges stemming from disability-related behaviors for a young person when she was arrested. The juvenile court judge stated that the young person's case was about humanity, morality, and empathy — and questioned whether the District Attorney's office needed to pursue such hard consequences for a young person who's lived through much hardship. Through Starre's advocacy — alongside her peers, Noa Nevo and Taylor Melzor — that the juvenile court saw the young person as a human being with specific and special needs.

The JJC is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with Starre and wish her the best in all of her efforts going forward.