Several hundred Law School students signed petitions yesterday in support of David E. Watts, assistant professor of Law, whose academic appointment has not been renewed by the administration.

The carefully-phrased petitions, circulated among Watts' former and present students, did not directly attack the decision of the School not to re-appoint Watts, but urged both Professor Watts and the Administration to reconsider the more.

The petition has been interpreted as an affirmation of Watts' teaching ability, rather than a program to get him reinstated.

Strong approval of Watts' teaching was asserted and the petitioners expressed alarm over the future of the Law School if young professors like Watts left the staff.

Unknown to professors, some of whom are on the administrative board, several petition were circulated in classrooms.

Arnold M. Liebowitz 3L, president of the Law School Record, has requested that the results of the petition be forward to him for publication next week.

Dean Erwin Griswold of the Law School said, "I have not heard of any petition and I have no comment."