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by | Dec 27, 2017 | Phoebe

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Susan Pamela Watters (born June 8, 1958) is an American attorney 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.[3] She then received a Juris Doctor in 1988 from the University of Montana School of Law.[3]

Career

From 1988 to 1989, she served as a law clerk to Diane Barz on the Thirteenth Judicial District Court of Montana.[3] From 1989 to 1995, she served as a Deputy County Attorney in Yellowstone County, Montana.[2] From 1995 to 1996 she was a sole practitioner focusing on criminal defense.[3] 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.[4][5]

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. This was to fill the seat in Billings 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 58–39 vote.[6] She was confirmed later that day by a 77–19 vote.[7] She received her judicial commission on December 18, 2013.[5]

At the time of Watters's appointment, Montana had two of the three active judge seats vacant.[8] The inability to review cases created a significant backlog. Brian Morris was confirmed shortly before Morris for the Great Falls location.[8]

On January 31, 2024, Watters denied a motion to dismiss a charge under the federal Gun-Free School Zones Act as unconstitutional under the Second Amendment.[9]

Personal life

Watters was previously known as Susan Pamela Dunn, Susan Pamela Elsberry and Susan Pamela Klein.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ Making History: President Obama’s Female Judicial Nominees Archived 2018-09-28 at the Wayback Machine, Alliance for Justice (June 11, 2013).
  2. ^ a b c "Senate Judiciary Committee Questionnaire" (PDF).
  3. ^ a b c d "Hon. Susan P. Watters Chambers". US District Court District of Montana. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  4. ^ "President Obama Nominates Three to Serve as District Court Judges". whitehouse.gov. 23 May 2013 – via National Archives.
  5. ^ a b Susan P. Watters at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  6. ^ "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Nomination of Susan P. Watters, of Montana, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Montana)". 12 December 2013 – via United States Senate.
  7. ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation Susan P. Watters, of Montana, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Montana)". 12 December 2013 – via United States Senate.
  8. ^ a b Johnson, Clair; Dennison, Mike (December 13, 2013). "Butte native Brian Morris confirmed as federal judge". Montana Standard. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  9. ^ "US v. Metcalf Order Denying Motion to Dismiss" (PDF). CourtListener. January 31, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2024.

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Preceded by Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Montana
2013–present 		Incumbent
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