Judge William H. Webster

The distinguished career of law school alumnus, Judge William H. Webster, reflects a lifelong commitment to public service and the legal profession. He directed the Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, served as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, and served as a judge on both the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Among his many professional appointments, he serves as chair of the Homeland Security Advisory Council and is a member of the law school’s National Council.

Judge Webster, born March 6, 1924, is a St. Louis native who grew up in Webster Groves. He received his B.A. in 1947 from Amherst College, where, in 1975, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws. He earned his J.D. from Washington University in 1949. He served as a lieutenant in the United States Navy in World War II and the Korean War. In addition to his public service, he worked as an attorney in private practice in St. Louis and Washington, D.C.

Judge Webster has received numerous awards and honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  He has also received honorary degrees from over a dozen colleges and universities. He continues his service as a member of the Board of Trustees of Washington University, the University of Colorado Law School Board of Visitors, and the National Advisory Board of the American University.

Over the course of his career, Judge Webster’s memberships have included the American Bar Association, the American Law Institute and its Council, the Order of the Coif, the Missouri Bar Association, and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. He also served as Chairman of the Corporation, Banking and Business Law Section of the American Bar Association and is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.