Born in Wellington, Joseph "Joe" Watts received his early education in Feilding, where he attended Manchester Street School and Feilding Agricultural High School. He worked as a law clerk with the local firm of Haggit, Elliott and Fawcett, before studying law at Victoria University, Wellington. Upon graduation in 1939, he joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force, where service took him to Fiji, Guatemala and Bougainville. Between 1945 and 1966, he practised law in Wellington. Two years as Chairman of the Town and Country Appeal Board followed and in 1968 he was appointed to the bench at Nelson as a stipendary magistrate. In 1975 Mr. Watts assumed the same role in Palmerston North. He became a district court judge in 1980 following a restructuring of New Zealand's judicial system. He retired in 1982, and moved to Taupo with his wife, Mollie.
Born in Wellington, Joseph "Joe" Watts received his early education in Feilding, where he attended Manchester Street School and Feilding Agricultural High School. He worked as a law clerk with the local firm of Haggit, Elliott and Fawcett, before studying law at Victoria University, Wellington. Upon graduation in 1939, he joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force, where service took him to Fiji, Guatemala and Bougainville. Between 1945 and 1966, he practised law in Wellington. Two years as Chairman of the Town and Country Appeal Board followed and in 1968 he was appointed to the bench at Nelson as a stipendary magistrate. In 1975 Mr. Watts assumed the same role in Palmerston North. He became a district court judge in 1980 following a restructuring of New Zealand's judicial system. He retired in 1982, and moved to Taupo with his wife, Mollie.
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