Raner Collins

Raner Collins

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Nonpartisan

United States District Court for the District of Arizona (senior status)

Tenure

2019 - Present

Years in position

5

Prior offices

United States District Court for the District of Arizona

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Education

Bachelor's

Arkansas Polytechnic College, 1973

Law

University of Arizona College of Law, 1975

Personal

Birthplace

Malvern, Ark.

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Raner Collins is a federal judge on senior status for the United States District Court for the District of Arizona. He joined the court in 1998 after being nominated by President Bill Clinton (D). Collins retired from full-time service, assuming senior status, on March 3, 2019.

On September 3, 2013, Collins became the chief judge after Roslyn Silver's transition to senior status. He served as the chief judge from 2013 to 2018.

Collins was succeeded by John Hinderaker. President Donald Trump (R) nominated Hinderaker in 2019 and the U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination in 2020.

Early life and education

A native of Arkansas, Collins graduated from Arkansas Polytechnic College with his bachelor's degree in 1973 and later graduated from the University of Arizona College of Law with his J.D. in 1975.

Professional career

• 1975-1981, 1983-1985: Pima County Attorney's Office
  • 1983-1985: County attorney
  • 1976-1981: Trial attorney
  • 1975-1976: Law clerk

Judicial career

• 1998-2019: Judge, District of Arizona
  • 2019: Assumed senior status
  • 2013-2018: Chief judge
• 1985-1998: Pima County Superior Court
  • 1988-1998: Superior court judge
  • 1985-1988: Superior court judge pro tempore
• 1981-1983: City magistrate, Tucson City Court

Federal judicial nomination

District of Arizona

Collins was nominated by President Bill Clinton (D) on May 11, 1998, to a seat vacated by William Browning as Browing assumed senior status. Collins was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on July 31, 1998 on a majority voice vote and received commission on August 3, 1998. Collins served as the chief judge from 2013 to 2018. He retired from full-time service, assuming senior status, on March 3, 2019.

Collins was succeeded by John Hinderaker. President Donald Trump (R) nominated Hinderaker in 2019 and the U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination in 2020.

Noteworthy cases

English in Arizona schools (2009)

See also: United States District Court for the District of Arizona

Judge Collins presided in a case involving the legality of the extent of how English is taught in Arizona public schools. On December 21, 2009, the judge rejected a claim from the Arizona Department of Public Instruction and the Arizona Legislature over teaching methods of English in the Nogales Unified School District.

Collins dismissed the claim, stating there was not enough to evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the school district's teaching methods violated federal standards.

See also

• United States District Court for the District of Arizona

External links

• Judge Collins Biography at the Federal Judicial Center

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by: William Browning	District of Arizona 1998–2019 Seat #1	Succeeded by: John Hinderaker