The Hon. Christopher A. Collins (Ret.) was a judge for the 8th Circuit Court District of Mississippi. He was appointed to the bench by former Governor Phil Bryant in 2016, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of the late Hon. Marcus D. Gordon. Collins retired in 2020 to return to private practice, where he hoped to practice alongside his family, including his children.
The 8th Circuit includes Leake, Neshoba, Newton, and Scott Counties.
Collins served as a judge for the 8th Circuit District Drug Court since it began in 2004. Prior to his appointment, he presided for several years as a civil court judge for the Tribal Court of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (1999 to 2016) and was also a domestic violence judge for the Tribal Court.
His legal career also included working as a prosecutor for the cities of Union and Decatur and as a special prosecutor in Winston and Lauderdale Counties. In addition, Collins was felony indigent counsel in the 8th District and as post-conviction counsel for inmates (1995 to 2016).
He received an A.A. from East Central Junior College (1987) and a B.A. in history and political science from Mississippi College (1989). Collins then completed a J.D. at Mississippi College School of Law in 1992.
After graduating from law school, he began his legal career in solo practice in Union and Philadelphia.
Collins was raised in Union, Mississippi, where he attended Union High School. He and his wife, Tammy, have four children. Collins has taught Sunday School since his third year in law school.