Derrick Kahala Watson

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Derrick Kahala Watson
Image of Derrick Kahala Watson

Nonpartisan

United States District Court for the District of Hawaii
Tenure

2013 - Present

Years in position

11

Education

Bachelor's

Harvard University, 1988

Law

Harvard Law, 1991

Personal
Birthplace
Honolulu, Hawaii
Contact

Official website 

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Derrick Kahala Watson is a federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii. He was nominated by President Barack Obama on November 23, 2012 and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 18, 2013. At the time of nomination, he was an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Hawaii.[1][2] Watson became chief judge in 2022.[3]

Early life and education

Watson attended Harvard College earning his A.B. in 1988. He went on to earn his J.D. in 1991 from Harvard Law School.[4]

Professional career

  • 2007-2013: Assistant United States Attorney, District of Hawaii
  • 2003-2007: Partner, Farella Braun & Martel LLP
  • 2000-2003: Associate, Farella Braun & Martel LLP
  • 1995-2000: Assistant United States Attorney, Northern District of California
  • 1991-1995: Associate, Landels, Ripley & Diamond[4]

Judicial career

District of Hawaii

Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: Derrick Kahala Watson
Court: District of Hawaii
Progress
Confirmed 154 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: November 15, 2012
ApprovedAABA Rating: Substantial Majority Well Qualified, Minority Qualified
Questionnaire: Questionnaire
ApprovedAHearing: January 23, 2013
QFRs: QFRs (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedAReported: February 14, 2013 
ApprovedAConfirmed: April 18, 2013
ApprovedAVote: 94-0

Watson was nominated on November 15, 2012 by Barack Obama to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii vacated by David Alan Ezra.[1] Obama commented on the nomination, stating:

“ These individuals have demonstrated the talent, expertise, and fair-mindedness Americans expect and deserve from their judicial system. They also represent my continued commitment to ensure that the judiciary resembles the nation it serves. I am grateful for their willingness to serve and confident that they will apply the law with the utmost impartiality and integrity. Too many of our courtrooms stand empty. I hope the Senate will promptly consider all of my nominees and ensure justice for everyday Americans.[4][5] ”

Watson was rated Substantial Majority Well Qualified, Minority Qualified by the American Bar Association. He had a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 23, 2013 and you can find his Committee Questionnaire available here and his Questions for the Record available here.[6]

On April 18, 2013, the United States Senate confirmed Watson to an Article III post for the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii with a vote of 94-0.[6] Watson became chief judge in 2022.[3]

Noteworthy cases

Executive order ruling - March 15, 2017

On March 6, 2017, President Donald Trump issued an executive order, Protecting The Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States, that rescinded and replaced his January 27 executive order of the same name. The order suspended for 90 days entry into the United States for individuals from Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The order also suspended refugee admissions to the United States for 120 days while the process was reviewed for additional national security measures that could be implemented. The order was set to go into effect on March 16, 2017.

Differences from the January 27 order included removing Iraq from the list of countries subject to the entry suspension, specifying that current visa holders were not affected, removing the indefinite suspension on admitting Syrian refugees, and allowing entry for refugees who had already been granted asylum.

On March 15, 2017, in response to a legal challenge from the state of Hawaii, U.S. District Court Judge Derrick Watson blocked the implementation of Section 2 and Section 6 of the executive order with a nationwide temporary restraining order. On March 29, 2017, Watson extended his temporary restraining order hours before it was due to expire.[7][8]

See also: Federal policy on immigration, 2017-2020

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate" 11/14/2012
  2. ↑ Official FJC Bio of Judge Watson
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Federal Judicial Center, "Watson, Derrick Kahala," Accessed November 23, 2022
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "President Obama Nominates Seven to the United States District Courts" 11/14/2012
  5. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 113th Congress Nomination Materials
  7. ↑ CNBC, "US judge in Hawaii grants motion for nationwide temporary restraining order of Trump’s travel ban," March 15, 2017
  8. ↑ Associated Press, "A look at latest ruling on Trump administration travel ban," March 30, 2017

Political offices
Preceded by
- 		United States District Court for the District of Hawaii
2013-Present		 Succeeded by
-


Hawaii courts

Federal courts:

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Hawaii • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Hawaii

State courts:

Hawaii Supreme Court • Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals • Hawaii Circuit Courts • Hawaii District Courts • Hawaii Family Courts

State resources:

Courts in Hawaii • Hawaii judicial elections • Judicial selection in Hawaii

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