--- title: "Robert T. Watson | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-t-watson" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Robert T. Watson Florida Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court · Circuit Civil Judge, CA 08 ## Profile - Court: Florida Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court - State: Florida - Role: Circuit Civil Judge, CA 08 - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-28 ## Summary Official judge-specific and circuitwide procedural guidance has been located for this profile. ## Biography ### Professional career - Assistant United States Attorney, Southern District of Florida, 2011-2016 - From 2011 to 2016, he held the role of a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, leading investigations into money laundering, currency structuring, investment fraud, wire fraud, healthcare fraud, child exploitation, and large-scale international narcotics trafficking. - Judge Robert T. Watson combines extensive experience in civil and criminal law with a strong record of public service and community involvement ### Education - Undergraduate degree summa cum laude in international relations and law from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service ### Additional information - In August 2022, he was retained by voters for a full six-year term starting January 2023 - Joined the Miami-Dade Circuit Court by Governor Ron DeSantis in December 2019 and began serving in January 2020, presiding over civil cases at the historic Dade County Courthouse in downtown Miami. - Prior to this, he served nearly a year on the County Court, appointed by Governor Rick Scott in January 2019 - Before joining the bench, Judge Watson practiced law at Kobre & Kim - Early in his career, he practiced commercial litigation and arbitration at Steel Hector & Davis and Holland & Knight in Miami - handling insurance disputes, commercial and residential landlord-tenant cases, debtor-creditor matters, and small claims, presiding over 20 jury and bench trials. - focusing on white-collar criminal defense and internal investigations. - He tried 20 federal cases to verdict and successfully argued before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. - Judge Watson grew up in Southern California and spent time in Costa Rica as a high school exchange student, where he learned Spanish and developed a strong interest in Latin American culture. - Judge Watson has received 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 federal prosecutorial work. - He is active in community organizations such as Amikids, the Federal Bar Association, and Trinity Cathedral, and has held the role of a guest lecturer, volunteer judge, and mentor for law students and new lawyers ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### electronic hearing materials Scope: judge specific Judge Watson requires supporting documents to be separately titled and submitted through courtMAP as PDFs; motions or responses over 20 pages also require a single-sided hard copy seven days before the hearing. Evidence excerpt: All documents must be submitted electronically via courtMAP in pdf format. For any Motion or Response longer than 20 pages, please provide a hard copy (single-sided) to chambers at least 7 calendar days prior to the hearing. [Robert T. Watson, Judicial Section Details](https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/Judge-Details?judgeid=1135§ionid=7) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### media and still photography Scope: statewide Electronic media and still-photography coverage is allowed in Florida public trial and appellate proceedings under Rule 2.450's equipment and conduct standards, always subject to the presiding judge's control of decorum, distractions, and fair administration. Evidence excerpt: Subject at all times to the authority of the presiding judge to: (i) control the conduct of proceedings before the court; (ii) ensure decorum and prevent distractions; and (iii) ensure the fair administration of justice in the pending cause, electronic media and still photography coverage of public judicial proceedings in the appellate and trial courts of this state shall be allowed [Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage](https://ninthcircuit.org/florida-rule-judicial-administration-2450) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/Judge-Details?judgeid=1135§ionid=7) - [Official roster](https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/Judge-Details?judgeid=1135§ionid=7) - [Florida Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court official judicial roster](https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/Judge-Details?judgeid=1135§ionid=7) - [Judicial Directory](https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/About-the-Court/Judges/Judicial-Directory) - [Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage](https://ninthcircuit.org/florida-rule-judicial-administration-2450) - [Robert T. Watson, Judicial Section Details](https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/Judge-Details?judgeid=1135§ionid=7) - [Judge-Details](https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/Judge-Details?judgeid=1135§ionid=7) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-t-watson", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-t-watson", "name": "Robert T. Watson | KnowJudges", "description": "Robert T. Watson, Florida Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-t-watson#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-t-watson#judge", "name": "Robert T. 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