Appointed by Barack Obama Preceded by Richard Cebull | Name Susan Watters | |
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Full Name Susan Pamela Klein Alma mater Montana State University, Billings
University of Montana, Missoula Education Montana State University Billings | ||
Susan Pamela Watters (born 1958) is 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.
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Biography
Watters was born in 1958, in Billings, Montana. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1980 from Eastern Montana College. She receive a Juris Doctor in 1988 from the University of Montana School of Law. 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.
Personal
Watters was previously known as Susan Pamela Dunn, Susan Pamela Elsberry and Susan Pamela Klein.
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.