Michael Harrison Watson
Senior Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
Incumbent
Assumed office November 1, 2025
Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
In office September 10, 2004 – November 1, 2025
Appointed by	George W. Bush
Preceded by	James L. Graham
Succeeded by	vacant
Personal details
Born	Michael Harrison Watson (1956-11-07)November 7, 1956 (age 69)[1] Akron, Ohio, U.S.
Education	Ohio State University (BA) Capital University Law School (JD)

Michael Harrison Watson (born November 7, 1956) is aseniorUnited States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.

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Watson was born inAkron, Ohio. He received hisBachelor of Arts degree fromOhio State University in 1983 and hisJuris Doctor fromCapital University Law School in 1987. He was a member of theUnited States Air Force from 1975 to 1978 and was in theOhio Air National Guard from 1978 to 1984. He rose to the rank of E5.

Watson was abailiff/law clerk of theFranklin CountyCourt of Common Pleas from 1983 to 1988. He was inprivate practice inOhio from 1988 to 1991 and was chief legal counsel of theOhio Department of Commerce from 1991 to 1992. He was a deputy chief legal counsel in theOffice of the Governor of Ohio from 1992 to 1994 and was chief legal counsel from 1994 to 1995. Watson was a judge to the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas from 1996 to 2003. He was a judge to the Tenth DistrictOhio Court of Appeal from 2003 to 2004.

PresidentGeorge W. Bush nominated Watson to theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio on April 6, 2004,^[2] to the seat vacated by JudgeJames L. Graham. His nomination generated no controversy. He was confirmed by theSenate on September 7, 2004,^[2] by a voice vote and he received his commission on September 10, 2004. He assumedsenior status on November 1, 2025.^[3]

• Since 2018, Watson has presided over theOhio State University abuse scandal lawsuits, which has stalled inmediation for over 3 years and favored OSU defendants^[4][5] In September 2021, it was revealed that Judge Watson failed to disclose that his wife has a licensing agreement with the university to sell OSU flags; the judge offered to hear arguments requesting hisrecusal.^[6] Watson is also anadjunct faculty member at OSU, which would typically be a disqualification from presiding over his employer. The plaintiffs and Strauss survivors in these lawsuits are frustrated with the Judge and OSU.^[7] However, the Sixth Circuit later ruled that none of these grounds required Judge Watson's recusal.^[8] Ohio State appealed to theSupreme Court of the United States; the justices upheld the sixth circuit's ruling.^[9]

• Michael H. Watson at theBiographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of theFederal Judicial Center.

• 1956 births
• Living people
• Capital University Law School alumni
• Judges of the Ohio District Courts of Appeals
• Judges of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
• Ohio National Guard personnel
• Ohio state court judges
• Ohio State University alumni
• Politicians from Akron, Ohio
• United States Air Force non-commissioned officers
• United States district court judges appointed by George W. Bush

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