President George W. Bush nominated Watson to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio on April 6, 2004,[2] to the seat vacated by Judge James L. Graham.

Since 2018, Watson has presided over the Ohio State University abuse scandal lawsuits, which has stalled in mediation for over 3 years and favored OSU defendants[3][4] In September 2021, it was revealed that Judge Watson failed to disclose that his wife has a licensing agreement with the university to sell OSU flags; the judge offered to hear arguments requesting his recusal.

[5] Watson is also an adjunct faculty member at OSU, which would typically be a disqualification from presiding over his employer.

The plaintiffs and Strauss survivors in these lawsuits are frustrated with the Judge and OSU.

[6] However, the Sixth Circuit later ruled that none of these grounds required Judge Watson's recusal.