Born in Buffalo, New York, Curtin was in the United States Marine Corps during World War II, from 1942 to 1945, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Curtin was in private practice in Buffalo from 1949 to 1961, and was then the United States Attorney for the Western District of New York from 1961 to 1967.

[1] In 1976, Curtin ruled on the case Arthur v. Nyquist, which effected the integration of the Buffalo Public School District.

The plaintiffs in this case were a group of concerned parents and Buffalo Common Council member George Arthur.

In 1994, Curtin presided over the trial of drug dealer Sly Green and 27 members of his gang, the L.A.