Denise Watson

Judge Denise M. Watson has weaponized her position to perpetuate systemic injustice and protect abusers at the expense of children and protective parents. Her courtroom is not a place of justice — it is a revolving door of trauma, corruption, and institutional failure. Despite a documented pattern of abuse and a five-year Order of Protection, she enabled the father — the abuser — to gain expanded visitation, while vilifying the mother with fabricated mental health claims and ignoring due process. She signed off on foster placements despite no lawful court order, upheld false reports, disregarded crucial evidence, and continues to endanger a child’s safety by aligning with a corrupt DCFS. Her rulings reflect gross judicial misconduct and blatant bias, especially against minority women. Public trust is eroded every time she takes the bench. Dutchess County deserves better than a judge who rewards cruelty, silences victims, and enables illegal state-sponsored family separation.

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.

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.