Joseph M. Watt
| Joseph M. Watt | |
|---|---|
| Justice of the Supreme Court of Oklahoma | |
|
In office May 18, 1992 – December 31, 2017 | |
| Appointed by | David Walters |
| Succeeded by | Richard Darby |
| Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Oklahoma | |
|
In office January 8, 2003 – January 11, 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Rudolph Hargrave |
| Succeeded by | James R. Winchester |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
March 8, 1947 Austin, Texas |
| Alma mater | Texas Tech University |
Joseph M. Watt (born March 8, 1947) is a former Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, who assumed the post in 1992. He was reelected in 1994, 1996, and 2002. From 2003 to 2007, he served two terms as Chief Justice. In 2005, he was reelected to an unprecedented second term as Chief Justice, despite a federal age discrimination lawsuit filed by the Court's then-Vice Chief Justice Marian P. Opala, then 83 years old, who claimed Supreme Court rules were changed to prevent him from becoming Chief Justice. Justice Watt wrote a letter to Governor Mary Fallin on October 2, 2017, stating that he would retire on December 31, 2017.
Early life and education
Watt was born in Austin, Texas and graduated from high school there in 1965. In 1969, he earned a bachelor's degree majoring in history and government from Texas Tech University. He earned his J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in 1972.[1] In 1972, he was also named Outstanding Law Student in the Nation by the Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity, and was elected to the University of Texas Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa National Honorary Leadership.[2] After being admitted to practice law in both Oklahoma and Texas in 1973, he moved to Altus, Oklahoma,[2] working in private practice until his appointment as the Altus city attorney in 1980, serving in that capacity until his appointment as a Special District Judge for Jackson County, Oklahoma in 1985. The following year, he was elected as an Associate Judge, serving in that capacity until 1991. From 1991 until Governor David Walters appointed him to the state Supreme Court, as justice for the 9th Judicial District (covering Harmon, Greer, Kiowa, Caddo, Canadian, Comanche, Jackson, Tillman and Cotton counties) he served as General Counsel in the Office of Oklahoma Governor David Walters. Voters re-elected him to that office in 1994, 1996 and 2002. He also served as Vice-Chief Justice in 2001 and 2002. His colleagues on the court elected him Chief Justice in 2003-4, followed by a second consecutive term in 2005.[2]
Retirement
On October 2, 2017, Justice Watt announced his intention to retire from active service on December 31, 2017. The announcement was made in a letter from him to Governor Mary Fallin.[3]
Family
Little has been published about his private life, except that he is married to Cathy Watt, and has four children, and two grandchildren.[2]
References
- ↑ Joseph Watts's Biography." Accessed November 20, 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 "Joseph M. Watt." Oklahoma Civil Justice Council. Accessed January 15, 2018.
- ↑ Faught, Jamison. "OK Supreme Court Justice Joseph Watt to Retire." Muskogee Politico. October 2, 2017. Accessed November 20, 2017.