Watson practices in the areas of civil rights litigation, governmental liability and appellate practice. She has defended a number of complex civil rights cases against cities, counties, and other quasi-governmental entities in state and federal courts. In state court, she has litigated several matters of first impression, including the application of the Kansas veterans preference law. Watson also practices in the state and federal courts of appeal, applying her six years of experience as a research attorney for the Kansas Court of Appeals and Kansas Supreme Court to obtain outstanding results for her clients.

• Washburn University, B.A. summa cum laude, university honors (1991)
• Washburn University School of Law, J.D. magna cum laude (1994)

• Kansas (1994)
• U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas (1994)
• Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals (2003)
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri (2004)
• Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals (2004)
• United States Supreme Court (2006)

• Topeka Bar Association
  • President (2007-08)
  • President-Elect (2006-07)
  • Treasurer (2004-06)
  • Board Member (2000-present)
  • Publications Committee Chair (1997-2000)
  • Newsletter Editor (1997-2000)
  • Legislative Committee (1998-2000)
  • Young Lawyers Division Treasurer, Social Committee Chair (1995-99)
• Kansas Bar Association
  • Board of Governors (2006-present)
  • Insurance Law Section
    • President (2005-06)
    • President-Elect (2004-05)
  • Government Attorneys Section Secretary/Treasurer, Section Editor (2002-04)
  • KBA Journal Opinion Digest Writer/Coordinator (2001-2003)
  • Media-Bar Committee
  • Criminal Law Section
  • Young Lawyers Section
• Women Attorneys Association of Topeka
  • Past President (2000-01)
  • President (1999-2000)
  • President-elect (1998-99)
  • Board Member (1996-2001)
  • Editor of Newsletter (1996-98)
  • Continuing Education Committee (1995)
  • Membership Committee (1994)
• Kansas Women Attorneys Association
  • Past-President (2005-06)
  • President (2004-05)
  • President-Elect (2003-04)
  • Secretary (2001-03)
  • Executive Committee (2001-present)
  • Publicity Chair (2002-present)
  • Membership Chair (2000-02)
  • Lindsborg 2003 Program Committee
  • Lindsborg 2000 Publicity Chair
  • Lindsborg 1999 Social Committee
• American Bar Association
  • ABA Council of Appellate Staff Attorneys (2001-02)
• Kansas Association of Defense Counsel
• Defense Research Institute

• Criminal Law: Marshaling the Defense-Indigent Defendants Guaranteed Psychiatric Assistance at Trial to Explain Battered Woman Syndrome (Dunn v. Roberts, 963 P.2d 308 (10th cir. 1992)) Washburn Law Journal, Volume 32, Issue 2.
• Cameras in the Courtroom: Beyond O.J. Simpson. National Association of Women Lawyers Journal, Spring 1996.
• The Health Care Maze: Understanding the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Group Health Provisions. Missouri Agent, November 1998, page 18.
• Pre-employment Drug Tests Require Care: Safeguards by Employers Can Prevent Common Legal Challenges, Kansas City Business Journal, December 4-10, 1998, page 43.
• Surviving Apprendi: A Procedural Ideal Meets the Real World of Determinate Sentencing, Journal of the Kansas Bar Association, January 2003, pages 44-57.
• Use It or Lose It: Giving Notice of Tort Claims to Municipalities Under K.S.A. 12-105b(d), Journal of the Kansas Bar Association, March 2005, pages 24-33.