Continuing the cycle of breaking down barriers, Seth Williams became the first Black district attorney of Philadelphia.
The 42-year-old litigator will become Philly’s first new district attorney in nearly 20 years, taking over for his former boss Lynne Abraham, whom served as the top lawyer in Philadelphia since 1991.
Williams campaigned on the promise to make Philadelphia the safest big city in America, using a hypothetical system in which individual prosecutors would be assigned to serve different neighborhoods to note his commitment to the city and his job.
The swearing in ceremony took place at Kimmel Hall, where Williams was joined by several newly appointed judges as well as re-elected City Comptroller Alan Butkovitz.
