THE HONORABLE ROBERT T. WATSON HAS HAD THE PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AS A JUDGE FOR OVER THREE YEARS.  JUDGE WATSON WAS APPOINTED TO THE CIRCUIT COURT BY GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS ON DECEMBER 16, 2019, WHERE HE HAS PRESIDED OVER FELONY CRIMINAL MATTERS – INCLUDING DRUG TRAFFICKING, BURGLARY, GRAND THEFT, BATTERY, CHILD ABUSE, FRAUD, AND HOMICIDE CASES.

JUDGE WATSON PREVIOUSLY SERVED FOR NEARLY A YEAR IN COUNTY COURT, AFTER BEING APPOINTED  BY GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT ON JANUARY 7, 2019. JUDGE WATSON SAT AT THE CORAL GABLES COURTHOUSE, HANDLING INSURANCE CASES, COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT DISPUTES, DEBTOR-CREDITOR MATTERS, AND SMALL CLAIMS CASES AND PRESIDING OVER 20 JURY AND BENCH TRIALS.

PRIOR TO SERVING ON THE BENCH, JUDGE WATSON PRACTICED AT THE INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM OF KOBRE & KIM, where he represented individuals in criminal matters and conducted internal corporate investigations

FROM 2011 TO 2016, JUDGE WATSON SERVED AS A FEDERAL PROSECUTOR AT THE U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA, WHERE HE LED INVESTIGATIONS INTO child exploitation, MONEY LAUNDERING AND CURRENCY STRUCTURING, INVESTMENT FRAUD, WIRE FRAUD, HEALTHCARE FRAUD, AND LARGE-SCALE INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING. JUDGE WATSON TRIED 20 CASES TO VERDICT IN FEDERAL COURT AND ARGUED SUCCESSFULLY BEFORE THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT U.S. COURT OF APPEALS.

JUDGE WATSON BEGAN HIS LEGAL CAREER PRACTICING COMMERCIAL LITIGATION AND ARBITRATION IN MIAMI AT BOTH STEEL HECTOR & DAVIS AND HOLLAND & KNIGHT. 

JUDGE WATSON LEARNED SPANISH AND DEVELOPED A LOVE FOR THE LATIN AMERICAN CULTURE AND PEOPLE GROWING UP IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND LIVING IN COSTA RICA AS A HIGH SCHOOL EXCHANGE STUDENT. HIS STRONG INTEREST IN GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE LED HIM TO WASHINGTON, D.C., WHERE JUDGE WATSON RECEIVED HIS UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE SUMMA CUM LAUDE IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND LAW FROM THE GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF FOREIGN SERVICE. HE WAS THEN A FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR IN CHILE AND TAUGHT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN a Latino-immigrant neighborhood in Los Angeles BEFORE EARNING HIS J.D. DEGREE FROM THE STANFORD LAW SCHOOL.

Judge Watson earned the Florida Bar's Meritorious Public Service Award for his work on a grievance committee and the FBI Director's Certificate of Recognition for his work as a federal prosecutor.

JUDGE WATSON HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN NUMEROUS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING AMIKIDS, THE FEDERAL BAR ASSOCIATION, AND TRINITY CATHEDRAL. HE HAS ALSO BEEN A GUEST LECTURER AND A VOLUNTEER JUDGE AT SEVERAL LOCAL LAW SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS A MENTOR FOR MANY LAW STUDENTS AND NEW LAWYERS.

JUDGE WATSON ENTHUSIASTICALLY SEEKS TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND GREATLY APPRECIATES YOUR INTEREST AND SUPPORT!