Background
Seitz, Collins Jacques was born on June 20, 1914 in Wilmington, Delaware, United States. Son of George Hilary and Margaret Jane (Collins) Seitz.
Seitz, Collins Jacques was born on June 20, 1914 in Wilmington, Delaware, United States. Son of George Hilary and Margaret Jane (Collins) Seitz.
Bachelor of Arts Delaware, 1937. Doctor of Laws, University Delaware, 1962. Bachelor of Laws, University Virginia, 1940.
Doctor of Laws, Widener College, 1975. Doctor of Laws, Villanova University School Law, 1983. Doctor of Laws, Catholic University, 1985.
Doctor of Laws, Dickinson School of Law, 1988.
He began private practice in Wilmington in 1940, continuing until being appointed vice-chancellor of the Delaware Court of Chancery in 1946. He served as vice-chancellor until 1951, and also concurrently served on the Supreme Court of Delaware from 1949 to 1951. He was elevated to chancellor in 1951, and remained in this position until 1966.
During his term as chancellor, Seitz presided over the Gebhart v.
Belton case, which was later combined with several other cases into the United States. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education. Seitz was nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit by U.s.
President Lyndon B. Johnson on February 28, 1966, to a seat vacated by John Biggs, Junior. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 9, 1966, and received his commission.
He served as chief judge of the Third Circuit, 1971–1984 and assumed senior status on June 1, 1989.
His judicial service was terminated with his death on October 16, 1998. Seitz"s son, Collins J. "Chief Justice" Seitz, Junior., is justice of the Delaware Supreme Court.
Member of American Bar Association, American Judicature Society, Delaware Bar Association (Order of 1st State award 1996, Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice award 1997), Wilmington Club.
Married Virginia Anne Day. Children: Virginia Anne, Collins Jacques, Mark, Stephen.