In October 1846, Williams was made a puisne judge of the court of common pleas, and received knighthood on 4 February 1847. Some of his major judgments were in the following cases: Earl of Shrewsbury v. Scott, 6 CB. NS. 1 (Roman Catholic disabilities); Behn v. Burness, 1 B. & S. 877 (warranties in charter parties); Johnson v. Stear, 15 CB. NS. 30 (measures of damages in trover); and Spence v. Spence, 31 L. J. C. P. 189 (application of Rule in Shelley's Case).
