District of Hawaii / Appointed 2013 / Active
Derrick Kahala Watson
Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii
Appointed by President Barack Obama in 2013 and confirmed by the Senate 94–0, Derrick Kahala Watson is a Judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii. He earned a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1991. Sources: FJC Biographical Directory · Senate confirmation, April 18, 2013
- Appointed by
- Barack Obama, 2013
- Confirmed
- 94–0
- Education
- Harvard 1988 · Harvard Law School 1991
- Succeeded
- David Alan Ezra
Federal judicial service
| Year | Court | Appointed by | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | District of Hawaii · succeeded David Alan Ezra | Obama (D) | 94–0 |
A per-senator roll-call isn’t shown for this confirmation. The Senate’s recorded roll-call votes begin in 1989; many confirmations (especially before then, and most to the lower courts) were by voice vote or unanimous consent.
Education
| Harvard University | A.B. | 1988 |
| Harvard Law School | J.D. | 1991 |
Sources
13 years on the District of Hawaii. Data last verified 2026-06-28. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).