Daryl Robert Williams (born 21 August 1942) is a former Australian politician who was a member of the House of Representatives from 1993 to 2004, representing the Liberal Party. He was Attorney-General in the Howard government from 1996 to 2003.
Background and early career
Williams was born in East Fremantle, Western Australia, and was educated at Richmond School, East Fremantle, and Perth Modern School. He went on to the University of Western Australia and Wadham College, Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar in 1965.
In 1968, Williams started work as a barrister. In 1971, he became counsel for the Asian Development Bank. In April 2004, he announced he would not be contesting the 2004 election. He stood down from the ministry in July 2004.
Post-political career
Williams was seriously considered as a candidate to replace Justice Mary Gaudron as a judge of the High Court of Australia in 2003, and was the nominee of the Western Australian Law Society for the post. Dyson Heydon was eventually appointed to the post. Williams was also considered a possible candidate for appointment to the High Court prior to the retirement of Justice Michael McHugh in 2005, following his retirement from politics. Susan Crennan was eventually appointed as McHugh's replacement. In addition, Williams has been mooted as a contender for appointment as Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia, a Justice of the Federal Court of Australia, the Supreme Court of Western Australia, or the Court of Appeal of Western Australia.