Derrick Kahala Watson

Derrick Kahala Watson (born 1966) is a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii.

Biography

Watson was born in 1966 in Honolulu, Hawaii. He graduated from the Kamehameha Schools in 1984. He received his Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1988 from Harvard College. He received his Juris Doctor in 1991 from Harvard Law School. He began his career at the law firm of Landels, Ripley & Diamond in San Francisco, California, as an associate from 1991 to 1995. He served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of California from 1995 to 2000, serving as Deputy Chief of the Civil Division from 1999 to 2000. He joined the San Francisco law firm of Farella Braun + Martel LLP in 2000, becoming partner in 2003, his practice focusing on product liability, toxic tort and environmental cost recovery litigation. He served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Hawaii from 2007 to 2013 and served as Chief of the Civil Division from 2009 to 2013.

Federal judicial service

On November 14, 2012, President Obama nominated Watson to serve as a United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, to the seat vacated by Judge David Alan Ezra, who took senior status on June 27, 2012. On January 2, 2013, his nomination was returned to the President, due to the sine die adjournment of the Senate.

On January 3, 2013, he was renominated to the same office. His nomination was reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 14, 2013, by voice vote.

On April 18, 2013, the Senate confirmed his nomination by a vote of 94 ayes to 0 nays. He received his commission on April 23, 2013.