A life-long career servant at the Justice Department’s Civil Division is leaving his post, joining the steady trickle of veteran lawyers who have left Main Justice in the last year.

Matthew Collette, who currently serves as the deputy director of the Civil Division appellate staff, will leave the Justice Department this month. A 30-year veteran, he leaves behind a senior role in the DOJ’s civil appellate team, responsible for defending U.S. agencies and policies in civil litigation before the federal courts of appeals.

Matthew Collette.