James, Melody L

William J. (Willie) Smith specializes in Civil Rights, race discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, pregnancy, age, disability and sex discrimination. He received a B.A. in Political Science from UCLA in 1968, and a law degree from UCLA Law School in 1972. After graduation from UCLA Law School, he worked for the National Labor Relations Board, Region 31, in Los Angeles.

He has served as a Pro Tem Judge, Mediator and Arbitrator in Employment disputes and as a Hearing Officer for the Los Angeles County Civil Service Commission, and a member of the Personnel Commission of State Center Community College District.

After departing the NLRB in 1974, he was employed by the Los Angeles law firm of Brundage, Reich, Beeson & Pappy, representing labor unions in litigation and collective bargaining. In 1978, he returned to his hometown, Fresno, where he has been engaged in private law practice and viticulture on the family farm.

He has been an active member of the American Bar Association, Labor Law Section, the Tort and Litigation Section, Labor & Employment Section of the California Bar, an Executive Board member of the National Employment Lawyers Association, former Co-Chair of the Sexual Harassment Committee of National Employment Lawyers Association, LA County Bar Association, Beverly Hills Bar Association, a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, an Executive; Board member, California Employment Lawyers Association, member of the Federal Bar Association (San Joaquin), as former Chair of Civil Rights Committee and member of the Inns of Court. He is also the former president of the Fresno County Bar Association, former president of the Central California Legal Services Board of Directors and former president of the State Center Community College District Board of Trustees, where he has served for approximately 17 years.

He is a nationally recognized speaker on sexual harassment, race discrimination and employment litigation, having; authored numerous articles, an amicus brief, (co-author); in Harris v. Forklift Systems, Inc.,(1993) 510 U.S. 17, 114 S.CT., 367 and contributor to C.E.B. Wrongful Employment Termination practice, 2d ed.

He was co-counsel in the first known million-dollar sexual harassment case in California. He has represented hundreds of plaintiffs and several defendants.

He has been selected as one of the outstanding employment lawyers in California by California Law Business, a legal publication of the Los Angeles Daily Journal. He was also selected as a member of College of Labor & Employment Lawyers.

He was co-counsel in; Andrews v. Rodway , a race discrimination, class action case in Federal Court, in Fresno.

He is currently class counsel in Pigford v. Glickman, et al., representing African American Farmers in a race discrimination case against USDA.

He is married to Judge Joy E. Johnson. They have four children: Danielle, Nicole, Seth and Kira.