Name William Watkins | Education Auburn University | |
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William Keith Watkins (born 1951) is the Chief United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama.
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Education and career
Born in Pike County, Alabama, Watkins received a Bachelor of Science degree from Auburn University in 1973 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1976. He was in private practice in Alabama from 1976 to 2005.
Federal judicial service
On September 28, 2005, Watkins was nominated by President George W. Bush to a seat on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama vacated by William Harold Albritton III. Watkins was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 21, 2005, and received his commission on December 27, 2005. He began serving as Chief Judge in 2011.
In April 2017, Watkins issued an order enabling white supremacist Richard B. Spencer to speak at Auburn University despite an initial cancelation by the administrators.