"I have great confidence that Steve Colloton will make a superb addition to the bench," Grassley said. "He is extremely well qualified for this job and is fully prepared to serve in this key position."
A vacancy on the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was created when Chief Judge David Hansen announced his intentions to retire from the bench on April 1, 2003. The vacancy is one of 11 judgeships on the 8th Circuit, which is based in St. Louis. The Court handles appeals in cases first decided by the federal trial courts from Iowa and six other states in the Midwest.
Colloton has been a U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa since 2001. He was in private practice from 1999-2001 and an adjunct professor at the University of Iowa College of Law during the Spring 2000 semester. Colloton also served as assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa from 1991-1994 and 1996-1999. He was an Associate Independent Counsel in the Office of Independent Counsel Kenneth W. Starr from 1994-1996 and Special Assistant to the Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel, U.S. Department of Justice from 1990-1991. Colloton graduated from Yale Law School in 1988 and received his bachelor's degree from Princeton University in 1985.
Colloton was one of four candidates Grassley recommended to President Bush in November. "Once the nomination has been formally sent to Capitol Hill, I'll work to expedite the confirmation process as a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee," Grassley said.