Judge Monte Watkins
Re-Elect Judge Monte Watkins
Davidson County Criminal Court Division V
Monte D. Watkins is a criminal court judge for the Davidson County Criminal Court Division V of the Twentieth Judicial District in Nashville, Tennessee. He was appointed to the court by former Governor Phil Bredesen on September 1, 2003, and was re-elected without opposition in 2004, 2006 and 2014.
Experience Respect Fairness – Re-Elect Judge Monte Watkins
Experience, Respect, & Fairness
Judge Monte D. Watkins received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Tennessee State University. After working for a number of years as a mental health specialist, financial counselor and real estate agent, he attended and graduated from North Carolina Central University School of Law where he received his Juris Doctor Degree.
Prior to his appointment as Criminal Court Judge on September 11, 2003, Judge Watkins worked 19 years as a Sole Practitioner, focusing on criminal defense, probate law and real estate. Since his appointment, he has been elected three times. He served as Chairman(2005-2017) of the Character and Fitness Committee, District V, of the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners (1992-2017); Life Member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); Co-Chair Tennessee Supreme Court Commission on Race, Gender and Ethnic Fairness(2000); Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (1993-1996);
Past President and Life Member of the Napier-Looby Bar Association; Life Member of the National Bar Association; Fellow of the Tennessee Bar Foundation, Fellow of the Nashville Bar Foundation, Fellow of the Napier-Looby Bar Foundation, a Master in the American Inn of Court, Life Member of the National Bar Institute, Life Member of the Tennessee State University Alumni Association and Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. He served as Treasurer of the Tennessee Judicial Conference and as Treasurer of the Judicial Council of the National Bar Association and is the current Chair of the Judicial Council. He is a proud parent and grandparent.
Experience Respect Fairness
The Leadership Our City Needs Right Now
Judge Monte Watkins
Current Chairman of the Character and Fitness Committee (District V) of the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners (1992-Present)
Treasurer of the Judicial Council of the National Bar Association
Board of Visitors of the NCCU Law School
Subscribing Life Member of the NAACP
Past President and Life Member of the Napier-Looby Bar Association
Life Member of the NBA
Fellow of the Nashville Bar Association
Master in the American Inn of Court
Life Member of the Tennessee State University Alumni Association
Co-Chair of the Tennessee Supreme Court Commission on Race, Genera, and Ethnic Fairness (2000)
Member of the Board of Directors for the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (1993-1996)
Honors
Distinguished Alumni Award Presented by the National Association for Equal Opportunity by Higher Education
Distinguished Service Award Presented by Tennessee State University
2012: Z. Alexander Looby Lifetime Achievement Award
