William Keith Watkins (born July 5, 1951) is a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama.
Born in Pike County, Alabama, Watkins received a Bachelor of Science degree from Auburn University in 1973 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1976.
On September 28, 2005, Watkins was nominated by President George W. Bush to a seat on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama vacated by Harold Albritton.
In April 2017, Watkins issued an order enabling white supremacist Richard B. Spencer to speak at Auburn University despite an initial cancelation by the administrators.
[1] In July 2017, Watkins found that Alabama did not need to notify formerly disenfranchised ex-felons of new legislation allowing them to vote.