Michael H. Watson

Personal

Birthday: 
1956
Birthplace: 
Akron, OH
Race or Ethnicity: 
White
Gender: 
Male
Prior Employment: 

U.S. Air Force, 1975-1978
Ohio Air National Guard, 1978-1984
Bailiff and law clerk, Franklin County [Ohio] Court of Common Pleas, 1983-1988
Private practice, Ohio, 1988-1991
Chief legal counsel, Ohio Department of Commerce, 1991-1992
Counsel, Gov. George Voinovich, Ohio, 1992-1995; deputy chief legal counsel, 1992-1994; chief legal counsel, 1994-1995
Judge, Franklin County [Ohio] Court of Common Pleas, 1996-2003
Judge, Court of Appeals of Ohio, Tenth Appellate District, 2003-2004

Education

Name of School: 
Ohio State University
Degree: 
B.A.
Degree Year: 
1983
Name of School - Second: 

Capital University Law School

Capital University Law School is an ABA-accredited private law school located in downtown Columbus, Ohio. The law school is affiliated with Capital University, the oldest university in Central Ohio and one of the oldest and largest Lutheran-affiliated universities in North America. Capital Law is perhaps best known for public law, as many recent alumni have gone on to prominent political and judicial positions.

The school was voted a "Best Value Law School" on the basis of tuition by the National Jurist magazine in 2009. In 2011, the National Jurist magazine, as well as preLaw magazine named Capital as one of the nation’s top law schools in preparing students for legal careers in public service. In 2012, the magazines listed Capital as one of the nation’s top law schools in terms of preparing its students for the bar exam. In 2014, Capital was named to the National Jurist Magazine's "Honor Roll" of law schools that provide practical legal education. In 2015, Capital was once again listed in the National Jurist Magazine's "Honor Roll" of law schools that deliver a practical, experiential legal education.

Degree - Second: 
J.D.
Degree Year - Second: 
1987

Judicial Career

Court Name: 
U. S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
Court Name: 

Ohio Southern District Court

President Nominating: 
George W. Bush
Party Affiliation of President: 
Republican
Commission Date: 
9/10/2004