Black History Month 2017 Collins Pettaway Profile

---

Collins Pettaway, Jr., JD '85

Collins Pettaway, Jr. graduated in 1985 from GW Law, where he was a student representative and was honored by Who's Who Among Students. He has practiced law for over 27 years. Mr. Pettaway started as a law student practitioner, admitted in February 1985, by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, and worked in the United States Attorney's Office, Superior Court Division, under Joe Diginova, U.S. Attorney and Mike Rankin – presently Judge Rankin – chief of the trial division. He is a noted trial lawyer and has extensive experience in diverse areas of law including civil, criminal, real property, estates, public authorities, governmental, corporate, bankruptcy, and civil rights litigation. Mr. Pettaway was also a certified sports agent by the NFL Players Association in 1986. His trial experience has led him to handle several complex and novel issues in state and federal courts, including many instances where his position has affected the change or clarity in case law. Mr. Pettaway has served as a Circuit Judge for the 4th Judicial Circuit of Alabama, Place 1, since January 2013.