Michael H. Watson at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Court
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
- Jurisdiction
- Ohio · Federal
- Judicial service
- September 10, 2004–present
Michael H. Watson
Judge · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
Available research
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Biography
Professional career
- Judge, Court of Appeals of Ohio, Tenth Appellate District, 2003-2004
- Judge, Franklin County Ohio Court of Common Pleas, 1996-2003
- chief legal counsel, 1994-1995
- deputy chief legal counsel, 1992-1994
- Counsel, Gov. George Voinovich, OH, 1992-1995
- Chief legal counsel, Ohio Department of Commerce, 1991-1992
- Private practice, Ohio, 1988-1991
- Bailiff and law clerk, Franklin County Ohio Court of Common Pleas, 1983-1988
- Ohio Air National Guard, 1978-1984
- U.S. Air Force, 1975-1978
Judicial service
- Judge, District Court, S.D. Ohio, 2004-present
- Judge of the Ohio Tenth District Court of Appeals
Education
- Ohio State University
Personal record
Born 1956 · Akron, OH
Courtroom rules and guidance
Civil Remote Testimony
In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.
For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗
Criminal Recording And Broadcasting
Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.
Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗
Sources
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · checked July 25, 2026
https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392231CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3394/michael-h-watson/Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedureFederal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts