According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, 9th District Congressman Doug Collins has notified House leadership of his intention to run for Chair of the powerful House Judiciary Committee next year. The position will open with the pending retirement of Virginia Congressman Bob Goodlatte.
While not in line from a seniority standpoint, the number of recent retirements and his leadership as Vice Chair of the Republican Conference give Collins a close relationship with the members of Republican Selection Committee that appoint Committee Chairs.
His legislative work with criminal justice reform and the modernizing of music copyright law has established his bona fides on Judiciary and his willingness to campaign for some more moderate Republicans in vulnerable seats across the U.S. has earned widespread respect among his colleges.
In a recent interview Congressman Collins made his intentions public,
The best thing I can offer is my work ethic and to make sure that we’re legislative while we’re here. I think the issue we’ve got to deal with is: How do we get to the art of finding legislation that helps people and moving it forward? Instead of focusing on what we can’t do, we should focus on what we can.
Collins was first elected to represent the 9th District in 2012. Prior to that he served in the Georgia House and practiced law in Gainesville.