Horton Williams


Horton Clement Williams QC is a retired judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia.

Early life

Williams was born in Sydney and attended Newington College. In 1950 his family moved to South Australia and he enrolled at the University of Adelaide and graduated in law.

Legal career

Williams was a Judge's Associate from 1954 until 1956 and was admitted to the South Australian Bar in 1955. From 1956 until 1977 he was in private practice. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1974.
In 1995, he was appointed as the inaugural presiding member of South Australia's Gaming Supervisory Authority, the supervising regulator for the Adelaide Casino and licensed gaming machine premises, effective 1 July 1995. Williams resigned this position on 31 August 1995 to accept appointment as a Justice of the State's Supreme Court.
Other legal positions held included chairman of the Judicial Conference of Australia, vice-president of the Australian Bar Association and president of the South Australian Bar Association.

Community involvement

Williams was Commodore of the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron from 1991 until 1993.