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I did some checking, and it looks like Williams was nominated by Governor Rendell and confirmed by the PA state Senate back in 2008.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08282/918275-100.stm

“One new judge is Judith F. Olson, 50, of Franklin Park, who chairs the antitrust practice group of Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis. The other is Joseph K. Williams III, who was born and raised in Manchester and still has his office there.

Both were nominated by Gov. Ed Rendell. Ms. Olson was recommended by Sen. Jane Orie, R-McCandless, and Mr. Williams was sponsored by Sen. Jim Ferlo, D-Highland Park.”

Was the bigot voted in or appointed?

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2 confirmed as Allegheny County judges
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
By Tom Barnes, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
HARRISBURG — The state Senate voted yesterday to confirm a lawyer from Franklin Park and another from Manchester to fill two vacancies on Allegheny County Common Pleas Court.

One new judge is Judith F. Olson, 50, of Franklin Park, who chairs the antitrust practice group of Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis. The other is Joseph K. Williams III, who was born and raised in Manchester and still has his office there.

Both were nominated by Gov. Ed Rendell. Ms. Olson was recommended by Sen. Jane Orie, R-McCandless, and Mr. Williams was sponsored by Sen. Jim Ferlo, D-Highland Park.

Ms. Olson has a bachelor’s degree from St. Francis University of Loretto and a law degree from Duquesne University. Mr. Williams has a bachelor’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University and a law degree from Duquesne.

“I’ve thought about becoming a judge for several years, but the opportunity came up at the end of the summer,’’ Ms. Olson said in a brief interview here yesterday.

A judicial merit selection committee organized by Ms. Orie two weeks ago recommended Ms. Olson for the Common Pleas post. She once worked as a law clerk to U.S. District Judge Maurice B. Cohill Jr. and formerly worked at Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote.

Mr. Williams served on the Pittsburgh-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority from 2001 to 2004. He has served on the boards of the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, the Negro Education Emergency Drive and the NAACP.