Judge Curtis L. Collier Honored with the Nation's Highest Judicial Award at the Supreme Court of the United States

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Supreme Court of the United States was the site of the Dwight D. Opperman Foundation's 42nd Annual Devitt Award ceremony and dinner, as Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., opened the proceedings honoring Senior United States District Judge Curtis L. Collier of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, as the 2026 recipient of the esteemed Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award.

Judge Collier was appointed to the federal bench in 1995 by President Bill Clinton. He served as Chief Judge of the Eastern District of Tennessee from 2005 to 2012, and assumed senior status in 2014 while continuing an active docket. Prior to his judicial service, he served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps, followed by distinguished careers as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Louisiana and the Eastern District of Tennessee. He later served as a member of the Board of the Federal Judicial Center.

Chief Justice Roberts welcomed Judge Collier and affirmed the significance of the honor before 100 select guests, "Beyond your courtroom, you have worked tirelessly to improve and strengthen the federal judiciary. Your efforts to mentor future generations of judges and to promote civics education inside and outside the branch have improved public confidence in our federal courts and have strengthened the rule of law." The Chief Justice added, "I can think of no judge better suited to carry on Judge Devitt's legacy."

In congratulating Judge Collier, the 2026-27 Devitt Award Selection Committee Chairwoman, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, said that this well-deserved honor was a fitting recognition of his remarkable 31-year career, stating that it has been defined by integrity, excellence, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to justice and service. Justice Jackson said, "You have made history as the first African American federal judge in the Eastern District of Tennessee, and later became the first African American to serve as Chief Judge of the district."

Judge Collier's journey — from a childhood in rural Arkansas marked by poverty and segregation, to Tennessee State University, Duke Law School, military service, federal prosecution, and more than three decades on the federal bench — stands as a powerful testament to the promise of equal justice under the law. Julie Opperman, Chairman of the Dwight D. Opperman Foundation, noted that, "The Opperman Foundation remains dedicated to supporting our judiciary and excellence in judicial leadership. We are pleased to continue the tradition of presenting the highest honor in the nation to exceptional federal judges, with the deeply appreciated support of the Supreme Court, and the unwavering guidance of Chief Justice Roberts." She added, "Judge Collier's life and career embody the highest ideals of public service and judicial excellence."

"Throughout his lifetime, Dwight D. Opperman believed deeply that the judiciary was critical to upholding democracy and justice," said Matthew Umhofer, the Foundation President. "Judge Collier has played a critical role in upholding those very same principles while bringing a deep sense of humanity to the cause of justice," Umhofer concluded.

With an abundance of humility, Judge Collier said that it has been the honor of his life to serve as a United States District Judge. "Growing up, I had the greatest respect for federal judges," he told the filled courtroom. "It never occurred to me then that I might someday become one. Serving as a judge has only increased my appreciation for our constitutional democracy and the special role the courts fill in a government defined by the rule of law." Then Judge Collier said, "I continue to have the greatest respect for my judicial colleagues at all levels. To be recognized by those colleagues for doing what I have loved and been privileged to do is an honor beyond what words can express."

The Devitt Award continues in perpetuity through the Dwight D. Opperman Foundation in honor of Dwight D. Opperman's enduring commitment to the American judiciary.

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SOURCE Dwight D. Opperman Foundation