William Keith Watkins

William Keith Watkins (born July 5, 1951) is a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama.

William Keith Watkins
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
Incumbent
Assumed office January 31, 2019
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
In office May 18, 2011 – January 31, 2019
Preceded by	Mark Fuller
Succeeded by	Emily C. Marks
Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
In office December 27, 2005 – January 31, 2019
Appointed by	George W. Bush
Preceded by	Harold Albritton
Succeeded by	R. Austin Huffaker Jr.
Personal details
Born	William Keith Watkins (1951-07-05) July 5, 1951 (age 73) Pike County, Alabama
Education	Auburn University (BS) University of Alabama (JD)

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 Harold Albritton. Watkins was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 21, 2005, and received his commission on December 27, 2005. He served as Chief Judge from 2011–2019. He assumed senior status on January 31, 2019.

Notable ruling

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.^[1] In July 2017, Watkins found that Alabama did not need to notify formerly disenfranchised ex-felons of new legislation allowing them to vote.^[2]

References

1. Sheets, Connor (April 18, 2017). "Judge issues order requiring Auburn to host Richard Spencer speech on campus Tuesday night". The Birmingham News. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
2. Note, Recent Case: District Court Finds No Irreparable Injury from the State’s Lack of Notice to People with Felony Convictions upon Re-Enfranchisement, 131 Harv. L. Rev. 2065 (2018).

Sources

• William Keith Watkins at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

Legal offices
Preceded by Harold Albritton	Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama 2005–2019	Succeeded by R. Austin Huffaker Jr.
Preceded by Mark Fuller	Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama 2011–2019	Succeeded by Emily Coody Marks