Watkins was Arkansas Attorney General from 1848 to 1851; "however, his primary focus continued to be his private practice".

Watkins was succeeded as Attorney General of Arkansas by his brother-in-law, J. J. Clendenin.

The Arkansas General Assembly elected Watkins chief justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court, a position previously held by Thomas Johnson, his wife's older sister's husband.

Watkins held the Chief Justice role from 1853 to 1854, during which time he did not practice law.

[1] Curran's death led Watkins to resign from his position, to take care of his law practice.