"The Robing Room: NY State Judges

Hon. Denise Watson	See Rating Details
Family Court
Dutchess County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 2.0 - 10 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 1.0 - 23 rating(s)	Please send me alerts on this judge E-mail Address:

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General Rating Criteria

* Temperament		(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Scholarship		(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Industriousness		(1=Not at all industrious,10=Highly industrious)
* Ability to Handle Complex Litigation		(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Punctuality		(1=Chronically Late,10=Always on Time)
* General Ability to Handle Pre-Trial Matters		(1=Not all Able, 10=Extremely Able)
* General Ability as a Trial Judge		(1=Not all Able, 10=Extremely Able)
Flexibility In Scheduling		(1=Completely Inflexible,10=Very Flexible)

Criminal Rating Criteria (if applicable)

* Evenhandedness in Criminal Litigation		(1=Demonstrates Bias,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
General Inclination Regarding Bail		(1=Pro-Defense,10=Pro-Government)
Involvement in Plea Discussions		(1=Not at all Involved, 10=Very Involved)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Pretrial Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Trial Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Sentencing Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)

Civil Rating Criteria (if applicable)

* Evenhandedness in Civil Litigation		(1=Not at all Evenhanded,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
Involvement in Settlement Discussions		(1=Not at all Involved,10=Very Involved)
General Inclination		(1=Pro-defendant, 10=Pro-plaintiff)

Comments

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What others have said about Hon. Denise Watson

Comments

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY12919
Rating:1.0

Comments:
What is with these F.Ct judges?! They don’t know the law, they are biased and nasty and pick a side, regardless of whether that side is supported by something they seem to not know—-EVIDENCE. Hold a hearing,nah. Allow parties an opportunity to be heard, nah? Fair and use discretion??. Watkins just got re-elected. My wish? All who voted for her should be forced to appear in her court. And that wouldn’t be punishment enough.

Other

Comment #: NY12569
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Puts children in danger and re-victimizes survivors of domestic violence. Fails to read case documentation. Is condescending, nasty, and frequently says she "doesn't have time for this". For what...her job? She needs to be investigated and removed from the bench before someone dies.

Other

Comment #: NY12517
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
She is the most worst judge I’ve ever been in front of. People who have violations more than you can count on one hand does nothing to that person, reprimands a mother for doing absolutely nothing wrong and follow the court order. Judge Watson should be hung by her toes. How about we do this to her grandkids that she can’t see or talk to in over six years. Yes she should be investigated by Congress. She is a bias, One way, believes lies without proof. He is a disgrace to society and Karma will come back and bite her in her ass.

Litigant

Comment #: NY12431
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Denise Watson puts children at risk. We are a group of moms currently or formerly in front of Watson and we are working to stop her gross misconduct.

Email us at StopJudgeWatson@gmail.com and visit our page Facebook.com/StopJudgeWatson

Litigant

Comment #: NY12367
Rating:1.0

Comments:
We are organizing to stop the re-election of Judge Watson for another 10 year term. Follow our Facebook page "Stop Judge Watson: Campaign Against Her Re-Election to Family Court." Had experiences with Judge Watson? Send the FB page a message. Or email ashleybcasale@gmail.com or bg1898@bard.edu or text/call 845-366-0274

There is an election on November 2nd for Dutchess County Family Court Judge. Vote for Rachel Saunders, a qualified and compassionate choice for Family Court Judge who is running against Watson. Visit her website: https://rachelforfamilycourt.com/ and Follow her Facebook page "Rachel For Family Court"

Other

Comment #: NY12285
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Awful judicial conduct. Acts like she does not want to be bothered, passes judgement before seeing evidence, extreme bias in favor of the father.

Other

Comment #: NY12220
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge is absolutely horrific. She ignores CPS, psychologists, and documented history of drug abuse, physical abuse and neglect. She’s going to be and is probably already responsible for the abuse and neglect of countless children impacted by her rulings. She should be investigated and banned from the court.

Other

Comment #: NY12175
Rating:1.0

Comments:
she is horrible, my grandson has not been given back to her mom for over a year she has done all that this judge wanted he is now with a man who is abusive and has never done anything this judge asked and gets away with it he is a drug addict horrible this baby is only 5 she is very bias and is taking it all out on my daughter shame shame shame

Other

Comment #: NY12168
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Looking for good custody lawyer for mother going against narcisst father prevailing in her court

Other

Comment #: NY12167
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
She drags her cases out to continue to get paid, it's like nothing is ever resolved under her ruling she allow things to drag which puts so much strain on the parents and children, i'm so disappointedin her practises

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NY12158
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Watson is a woman hating train wreck. If you are serious about organizing to make sure she is not re-elected please send your email and name. I am formulating a list of folks willing to demonstrate in front of the courthouse when she is up for re-election.

Send your name/email to me, Jack Kinne, at jkinne@optonline.net. I am told she has one year left. That gives us a year to get our act together.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NY12157
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Judge Watson is the worse judge ever !!! She is worried about the person who is petitioning and don’t listen to the facts only what’s written in black and white

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NY12018
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
She only has one year left on the bench but people have to organize to make sure she is not reelected. She has done so much damage to this community. I think families that have been wronged by her, including my own, need to have their complaints against this judge heard. My case with her is finally over so I am available to organize. Terrible judge and human being. Hates children.

Other

Comment #: NY12017
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Horrible she never even looked up to get the real story. And gave my bipolar brother an order of protection against me!! He lied and fabricated a whole story.

Other

Comment #: NY12014
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Dishonorable Denise Watson is the most horrific family court judge I have ever seen. She is clearly against mothers. She will hastily give parental custody and rights to abusive, narcissistic, gaslighting biological fathers and rip children away from loving, nurturing and thriving homes. She refuses to listen to the children or the law guardians. This woman should be investigated by Congress. She needs to be impeached. This woman is putting the welfare of children at grave risk. She is reckless in her decision making. She is a danger to society. I pray for anyone who has the misfortune of going before her. I also pray for her to come out of whatever evil is that possess her. [Redacted by Ed.]

Other

Comment #: NY11737
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Smug,bias against women,uncaring of the children's best interests,just a really bad judge.needs to be impeached. Very bad for our children

Other

Comment #: NY11665
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I would like to see a psychology report on this judge. She is out of her mind. She is rude and has no sense for the wellbeing of a child. She is delusional when it comes to the welfare of a child or a family. She should be impeached and disbarred. She should be sued and held responsible for the neglect of a childs welfare. Watson is blind to what a good parent and an unfit parent is. I wonder if she had "daddy issues" growing up.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NY11346
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Worst judge I have ever seen in action!

Litigant

Comment #: NY11345
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
This judge consistently sides with the male in almost every case. Read the comments made prior and it's obvious. Watson is EXTREMELY prejudiced against women.

She must hate her mother and adore her father because it is overly apparent in her rulings!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY11131
Rating:1.2

Comments:
This is perhaps THE worst Judge I have had the unfortunate experience to appear before. I have never heard more dismissive comments about a client, biased presentation and a completely unconcerned position of the BIC. She is however not alone in her unprofessionalism-joined by a law guardian who guards no one’s interests and certainly not the child. Did 0 investigation so why should the Court. Truly disheartening and an indication that this court system needs a complete overhaul. Justice? What’s that?!

Other

Comment #: NY10952
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge Watson is awful and not fit to be a judge at ‘Family Court’. She does not care about any women in a custody case. She does not tak into consideration of what the children want. She gives everything to the abusive father and kicks the mothers out pushes them away from their children. My mother is in the middle of a court case right now. Gives her two weeks from today to vacate. 2 WEEKS. Who does this??? She will not hear my mother out. She needs to vacate her position out of this court, because family is last thing she cares about! Gotta wonder if she never had a caring mother!! So she hates on all of the mothers out there and doesn’t not give a rats arse. Vote her out immediately! The stress she is putting on my family right now is unforgivable. We will try our damndest to fight back. No one should have to go through this!

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NY10662
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Have no respect for this judge. She dishonors the title she holds.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NY10072
Rating:8.5

Comments:
Excellent judge.

Other

Comment #: NY9733
Rating:1.0

Comments:
She has destroyed hundreds of people's lives. Please do everything possible to make sure that she gets off the bench as soon as possible. She transferred custody of my daughter without a hearing. If anybody has access to the press, use it. There needs to be a deep and thorough investigation of this judge and the damage she has caused to families in Duchess County.

Litigant

Comment #: NY9732
Rating:1.0

Comments:
She transferred custody of my 3 children without evaluation against the law guardian and therapist recommendation. The children were devastated. Then I paid over 3 years 7000$ for supervised visits. After 5 mental health evals I finally won the right to be a part of my children lives....After I got her recused. To this day there is not a single standing reason that I went with out my children or don't have custody. Her court room is a circus and many times I had to challenge her at why she was keeping me from my children. I was at the beauty Solon and talking about it the other day, 2 stylist turned around and said Judge Watson? I said yes...they have heard of her recklessness and how she puts children at risk!

Other

Comment #: NY9534
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Horrific. I cannot believe she’s in charge of my daughters life. In shock and Disbelief

Other

Comment #: NY9224
Rating:1.0

Comments:
if i owned a zoo, i would not hire her to clean up the feces left by an elephant, as she is not qualified to be in the presence a snake shedding it's skin!!!!!

Prosecutor

Comment #: NY8926
Rating:1.6

Comments:
this Judge is unintersed in the
acts always in a Bad mood impatient And only here the acusor side n allow them to admitt false info and she still support their action, she should step down

Other

Comment #: NY8689
Rating:1.0

Comments:
During our case, Judge Watson stated that CPS's suggestion of limited supervised visitation was unwarranted and the fact that the father attempted to choke the mother who was holding their child at the time was "old news." All evidence of his abuse was disregarded simply because he said he didn't do it. The child has come from visits with her father with raging fevers that he claims he didn't notice, burned hair that he didn't notice, abrasions, a burned tongue as well as breaking a limited order of protection, the custody agreement and she simply dismisses the allegations with clear evidence. She does not care about the children she has sworn to protect.

Other

Comment #: NY8034
Rating:1.0

Comments:
SPCA checks out choice for pets better than she investigates parents who get custody of their kids

Litigant

Comment #: NY7551
Rating:1.0

Comments:
What a horrible person. She flips and flops on issues like a fish. How she ever became a family court judge is beyond me. My nephew deserves better than what little she has not done for him.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NY7477
Rating:1.0

Comments:
What a horrible judge. I cannot belive this woman is supposed to be protecting children. Not only is she unable to connect the facts, she makes fly by her pants decisions and show bias blatantly in her courtroom. Lord help the children of Dutchess County, because this woman sure won't.

Litigant

Comment #: NY6893
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Judge Watson shows all the signs of Judicial burnout. Rather than hear the evidence in an even tempered manner, she makes snap judgments, with no thought or regard to the consequences. And God help you if you are represented by an attorney that has previously appealed one of her cases!

Litigant

Comment #: NY6835
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge is a disgrace to the court system . She took my child from a dual parent home with siblings ( we live in Florida ) decided to exercise juradistion over my child without my knowledge and gave her to my abuser . I am the sole parent for 5 years my ex wanted nothing todo with my daughter until I became remarried an had other children . Today with a hearing my lawyer being present or my daughter court appointed law guardian present she called me names in court n told me I did this to my child . She out my 5 year old daughter in a single male home ( he has a demestoic violence recorded not just with myself but two other women one of which my daughter saw the incident he beat he's live in girl friend with an I pad ) she sleeps on a couch . The court wouldn't set visation for n just set trial . My daughter is devastated and doesn't understand . He had put my child's life in danger twice sense the ruling and over looks all the evidence n medical reports . I've work in the medical community in the Hudson valley for 6 years before moving . He wasn't even a citizen of the United States to just recently I am scared he will take her away for good and still this judge doesn't care . She is causing teams to all three of my children once a happy lil girl who played sports smiled n laughed cries on phone calls n complains about her everyday life from the dirty apartment n couch she sleeps to no having food in her fridge and her knotted hair . This judge needs to be removed !!! I'm currently appealing her as we speak someone needs to help these children. !!!

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NY6814
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge watson helps legally kidnap children, violates children and parents rights. Puts children in abusive homes she knows nothing about, many people who are in her court room are in some way afraid of her and don't report her. I'm Still fighting a case in her court. She needs to be investigated!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY6154
Rating:1.0

Comments:
this jugde is rude and incompant, has misconduct in her court room,she allows the county attorney to make all her decisions for her and they send all children away at high risk if their guilty or not, which in the long end causes more damage and trauma to a child. She should not be a judge in the eyes of the LAW!!!!

Court Staff

Comment #: NY5837
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I have witnessed Judge Watson put many children in a dangerous environment. I'm not sure how she even became a judge for family court. I believe she has serious issues at home and takes it out on women. She needs to be reported.

Litigant

Comment #: NY5831
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Horrible, she is in a rush to get to the next case. She takes sides. She believes all of one persons testimony and none of the other. I personally may take her to a higher court to make her answer for why she's placed my kids in an abusive home after taking them out of their home, their school She is a discrace to women and our justice system

Other

Comment #: NY5661
Rating:1.0

Comments:
SHE DOES NOT BELONG TO FAMILY COURT! She is giving the abuser more power and control. My child lives with his abuser(because of her) who endangered my child's welfare, life several time. Ignores the police reports. Order for custody and visitation she signed without me and totally different than we talked about prior at our last hearing.
My child lives with abuser, because of her. who endanger my sons life several time. She ignores the police reports

Litigant

Comment #: NY5578
Rating:1.0

Comments:
At times I thought she was doing a crossword puzzle,seemed to be in another world, either very forgetful or only hears what she wants to hear.She made a bad family situation worse by not considering for a moment the children or the situation.Incompetent and short-sighted Does not belong in Family court period.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NY5577
Rating:2.7

Comments:
Judge Watson allowed herself to "forget" that the custodial parent is TOTALLY innapropriate with my children and she herself said the children may not disclose certain things but she wanted to know more about the kids BEHAVIORS....it was NEVER followed up on. So, who loses out? Not any adult but the children!!!

Litigant

Comment #: NY5576
Rating:2.0

Comments:
Very one sided and CHOOSES to take as fact any and all accusations made, even in domestic violence situations. She does not take into account the children's wishes nor does she choose to see how they are effected by her decisions. She may be nice but she isn't 'qualified' for family court, despite all her training.

Litigant

Comment #: NY4840
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Made her mind up during an ex parte and remained blind to the facts throughout several hearings and a two-day trial. She is extremely incompetent and seems to be in over her head, as she could not comprehend five lines of a basic emergency room report that showed our grandson to have been assaulted. She has no compassion for family or children. She does not belong in the family courts, period. As a strict conservative, I am appalled that she is running as a conservative justice and I will join any movement to have her impeached. I am sure that there are many others who find her unacceptable.

Other

Comment #: NY4290
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Currently going through family court. It is a very disappointing experience. Judge Watson is very one sided, favors the side with a paid attorney and not us with the public defender. she has made inappropriate remarks and is not showing to be fair at all. Never had a judge act like this