Davidson County Criminal Court Judge Monte D. Watkins was the recipient of a scholarship from the National Judicial College in Nevada to attend a week-long course in General Jurisdiction with judges from across the country.
The jurists shared ideas on courtroom and case management, including cases involving self-represented or pro se, litigants. The course is designed, in part, to help judges manage their courtrooms and cases and conduct trials more effectively.
Watkins was appointed by Gov. Phil Bredesen in September 2003 to fill one of two new criminal court positions in Davidson County.
The National Judicial College, founded in 1963, averages 85 courses a year with more than 2,700 judges enrolling from across the nation. It is located on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno and includes technology-enhanced classrooms, a 75,000-volume law library, state-of-the-art model courtroom, modern seminar rooms, distance education facilities, computer lab and offices of the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Courts and Media.