Shirley M. Watts

Shirley Marie Watts (born March 6, 1959)[1] is an American lawyer and jurist from Baltimore, Maryland. Since July 2013, she has served as a Judge on the Maryland Court of Appeals, the state's highest court. Watts is the first African American woman to serve as a judge on the Court of Appeals.[1] Prior to her appointment, she was a judge on the Maryland Court of Special Appeals from 2011 to 2013 and an associate judge on the Baltimore City Circuit Court from 2002 to 2011.[2]

Honorable Shirley M. Watts
Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland
Incumbent
Assumed office July 31, 2013
Appointed by	Martin O'Malley
Preceded by	Robert M. Bell
Judge of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals
In office January 27, 2011 – July 31, 2013
Appointed by	Martin O'Malley
Preceded by	Arrie W. Davis
Succeeded by	Michael W. Reed
Associate Judge of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City
In office February 5, 2002 – January 26, 2011
Appointed by	Parris Glendening
Preceded by	Kathleen O'Ferrall Friedman
Succeeded by	Jeannie J. Hong
Personal details
Born	(1959-03-06) March 6, 1959 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Alma mater	Howard University (BA) Rutgers Law School (JD)

Born in Baltimore, Watts received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Howard University in 1980. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers School of Law in 1983.[2] On July 3, 2013, Governor Martin O'Malley nominated Watts to fill the seat of retired Chief Judge Robert M. Bell on the Court of Appeals, representing the 6th Appellate Circuit (Baltimore City).[3]