Susan P. Watters
Susan P. Watters | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Montana | |
| Assumed office December 18, 2013 | |
| Appointed by | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Richard F. Cebull |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 8, 1958 Billings, Montana, U.S. |
| Education | Eastern Montana College (BA) University of Montana (JD) |
Susan Pamela Watters (born June 8, 1958) is an American attorney and jurist serving as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Montana. She is the first female judge to serve in the District of Montana.[1]
Early life and education
Watters was born in 1958, in Billings, Montana.[2] She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1980 from Eastern Montana College. She then received a Juris Doctor in 1988 from the University of Montana School of Law.
Career
From 1988 to 1988, she served as a law clerk to two different judges on the Thirteenth Judicial District Court of Montana. From 1989 to 1995, she served as a Deputy County Attorney in Yellowstone County, Montana. From 1995 to 1996 she was a sole practitioner focusing on criminal defense. From 1996 to 1998, she practiced both civil and criminal litigation at the law firm of Hendrickson, Everson, Noennig & Woodward, P.C. in Billings, Montana. From 1998 to 2013, she served as a judge of the Thirteenth Judicial District Court of Montana.[3][4]
Federal judicial service
On May 23, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Watters to serve as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Montana, to the seat vacated by Judge Richard F. Cebull, who took senior status on March 18, 2013. Her nomination was reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 19, 2013. Cloture was invoked on her nomination on December 12, 2013, by a vote of 58–39. She was later confirmed that same day to the United States District Court for the District of Montana by a vote of 77–19. She received her judicial commission on December 18, 2013.[4]
Personal life
Watters was previously known as Susan Pamela Dunn, Susan Pamela Elsberry and Susan Pamela Klein.[4]
References
- ^ Making History: President Obama’s Female Judicial Nominees, Alliance for Justice (June 11, 2013).
- ^ "Senate Judiciary Committee Questionnaire" (PDF).
- ^ "President Obama Nominates Three to Serve as District Court Judges". 23 May 2013.
- ^ a b c "Watters, Susan Pamela – Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
External links
- Susan P. Watters at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- Susan P. Watters at Ballotpedia
- 1958 births
- Living people
- American women judges
- American women lawyers
- Judges of the United States District Court for the District of Montana
- People from Billings, Montana
- Montana state court judges
- Montana State University Billings alumni
- University of Montana alumni
- United States district court judges appointed by Barack Obama
- 21st-century American judges
- 21st-century women judges