H. Franklin Waters

Hugh Franklin Waters (July 20, 1932 – April 16, 2002) was an attorney and a United States federal judge.

Born in Hackett, Arkansas, Waters received a B.S. in Agricultural engineering from the University of Arkansas in 1955. He was in the United States Navy Lieutenant (JG) from 1955 to 1958.

He received an LL.B. (law degree) from Saint Louis University School of Law in 1964.

Waters was an agricultural engineer at Ralston Purina Company of St. Louis, Missouri from 1958 to 1966. He was their in-house corporate attorney from 1964 to 1966.

He was in private practice in Springdale, Arkansas from 1967 to 1981. He was a Part-time instructor, University of Arkansas Law School in 1968.

Waters was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. Waters was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on August 28, 1981, to a seat vacated by Paul X. Williams. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 21, 1981, and received his commission on October 26, 1981. He served as chief judge from 1981-1997. He assumed senior status on August 1, 1997. Waters served in that capacity until his death, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.