James Lopez Watson (May 21, 1922 – September 1, 2001) was an American lawyer who served as a federal judge of the United States Court of International Trade.
While serving as a judge around the country, Watson became the first African-American to head a federal court in the American Deep South.
[citation needed] Watson was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson on January 19, 1966, to a seat on the United States Customs Court vacated by Judge Jed Johnson.
He was reassigned by operation of law to the United States Court of International Trade on November 1, 1980, to a new seat authorized by 94 Stat.
His service terminated on September 1, 2001, due to his death of cancer in Harlem.