Steven M. Colloton

Steven M. Colloton is an American jurist who serves as the chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Appointed to the appellate bench in 2003 by President George W. Bush, he has remained an active member of the court and assumed its chief judgeship in 2024. Prior to his judicial service, Colloton held the position of United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa from 2000 to 2003 and accumulated extensive experience as a federal prosecutor, private‑practice lawyer, and law clerk at both the appellate and Supreme Court levels.

Early life and legal career

Steven Michael Colloton was born on January 9, 1963, in Iowa City, Iowa. He is the son of John W. Colloton, who directed and later served as chief executive officer of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for more than two decades, and he has a sister named Ann Colloton. Growing up in Iowa City, he attended Iowa City West High School before enrolling at Princeton University. At Princeton, Colloton graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1985, earned membership in the honor society Phi Beta Kappa, and participated in the Ivy Club, an all‑male eating club that existed on campus at the time.

Following his undergraduate studies, Colloton pursued legal education at Yale Law School. He completed his Juris Doctor in 1988 after serving as an articles editor of the Yale Law Journal and receiving the Potter Stewart Prize for moot court performance. During his time at Yale he authored a scholarly note defending single‑sex student organizations, specifically referencing Princeton eating clubs such as the Ivy Club, which was later published in the Yale Law & Policy Review.

After law school, Colloton entered the federal judiciary as a clerk for Judge Laurence Silberman of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (1988–1989). He subsequently clerked for Chief Justice William Rehnquist of the United States Supreme Court from 1989 to 1990. These early experiences provided him with insight into appellate and constitutional adjudication at the highest levels.

Colloton’s career in public service continued with a role as special assistant to the Attorney General within the Office of Legal Counsel, Department of Justice, from 1990 to 1991. He then joined the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa, serving as an Assistant United States Attorney in Cedar Rapids between 1991 and 1999. During this period he also contributed to the independent counsel investigation led by Kenneth Starr, acting as an associate independent counsel from 1995 to 1996.

In private practice, Colloton became a partner at the Des Moines firm Belin McCormick, where he worked from 1999 until his appointment as U.S. Attorney in 2000. While practicing law, he shared his expertise with students as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Iowa College of Law in 2000. That same year, Colloton participated in George W. Bush’s presidential campaign in Iowa, a political involvement that preceded his subsequent federal appointment.

Following President Bush’s election, Colloton was appointed United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa. He held this position from 2000 until his elevation to the appellate bench in 2003, overseeing federal prosecutions and representing the United States in civil matters throughout southern Iowa.

Federal appellate service

President George W. Bush nominated Steven M. Colloton to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on February 12, 2003, filling the vacancy created by Judge David R. Hansen’s departure. The nomination received bipartisan support from both of Iowa’s U.S. senators—Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin—reflecting a degree of consensus across party lines.

The United States Senate confirmed Colloton on September 4, 2003, with a vote tally of ninety‑four in favor and one against; the sole dissenting vote was cast by Senator Fritz Hollings. He received his judicial commission six days later, on September 10, 2003, and entered active service as an appellate judge for the Eighth Circuit. Throughout his tenure he has participated in the adjudication of a broad spectrum of federal issues arising from the eight states within the circuit’s jurisdiction.

After more than two decades on the bench, Colloton assumed the role of chief judge of the Eighth Circuit on March 11, 2024. In this capacity he oversees the administration of the court, including case management, docket planning, and the supervision of judicial personnel. His elevation to chief judge places him among a relatively small group of federal appellate judges who have held both long‑standing service and senior administrative responsibilities.

In addition to his judicial duties, Colloton was included on President Donald J. Trump’s list of potential nominees for the United States Supreme Court, indicating that he has been considered for elevation to the nation’s highest court.

Jurisprudence and legacy

Judge Colloton’s written opinions reflect a careful approach to statutory interpretation and an attentiveness to the precise language of federal statutes. A notable decision issued in February 2017 addressed sentencing under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA). In that case, Colloton vacated enhanced prison terms imposed on members of the Native Mob after determining that Minnesota’s definition of burglary did not satisfy the ACCA’s requirement that a predicate offense be classified as a “violent felony.” The ruling emphasized the necessity for courts to apply statutory definitions consistently and underscored the limits of expanding criminal statutes beyond their textual scope.

Beyond this specific case, Colloton’s broader contributions to Eighth Circuit jurisprudence include participation in panels that have resolved complex issues ranging from civil rights and administrative law to commercial disputes and federal regulatory matters. As chief judge, he has also played a pivotal role in shaping the procedural framework of the circuit, guiding initiatives aimed at improving efficiency, fostering collegiality among judges, and ensuring timely resolution of appeals.

Colloton’s career trajectory—from clerkships at the nation’s highest courts through extensive prosecutorial experience, private‑practice partnership, and ultimately to senior judicial leadership—illustrates a professional path marked by sustained engagement with both the substantive and procedural dimensions of federal law. While his decisions are evaluated on their legal merits rather than personal ideology, his record demonstrates an adherence to rigorous statutory analysis and respect for precedent.

As chief judge, Colloton continues to influence the development of appellate jurisprudence within the Eighth Circuit while also overseeing the court’s administrative responsibilities. His legacy will be measured by both the body of opinions he authors and the institutional improvements enacted under his stewardship, contributing to the ongoing function of the federal judiciary in interpreting and applying United States law.