William Healy was born near Windham, Iowa, on September 10, 1881, the son of Jeremiah and Mary Ann (Bradley) Healy. He attended the University of Iowa for six years, receiving his B.A. in 1906 and an LL.B. in 1908. He then moved to Idaho where he was admitted to the bar and became a partner in the Boise law firm of Smead, Elliott & Healy. He practiced law in Silver City, serving as prosecuting attorney of Owyhee County from 1911 to 1912, until he moved to Boise in 1914 where he continued his practice until 1934. He was active in Democratic politics, serving as Chairman of the Democratic County Central Committee of Owyhee County. He also represented that county in the lower house of the state legislature in 1913. He married Mary Hicks on June 18, 1914; they had two daughters. In 1917 he was appointed a member of the state board of education, serving until 1919. He was President of the Idaho State Bar Association from 1932 to 1933. From June 1937 until his death in 1962 he was a Judge of the 9th Judicial Circuit Court of Appeals. He received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Idaho in 1957. He died in San Mateo, California in 1962.