who was the first woman to ever serve as united states attorney general?

Which president appointed the first female attorney general?

Janet Reno became the first female attorney general when she was nominated to that position by President Clinton. Reno served as attorney general throughout Clinton's eight years in office, from 1993 to 2001.

What is the heritage of Janet Reno?

Her father, a Danish immigrant, was a police reporter for the Miami Herald, and her mother was an investigative reporter for the Miami News.

Did Janet Reno have Parkinson's?

Attorney General Janet Reno has Parkinson disease, but she never stuffs her hands in her pockets to hide her tremors. Instead she's completely upfront about the neurological disease, which was diagnosed in 1995.

Has the US ever had a female Attorney General?

Janet Wood Reno (July 21, 1938 – November 7, 2016) was an American lawyer who served as the 78th United States attorney general under President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 2001, the second-longest serving in that position, after William Wirt. A member of the Democratic Party, Reno was the first woman to hold the post.

Why is Janet Reno famous?

Janet Reno broke new ground in 1993 as the first woman to serve as U.S. Attorney General, serving under President Bill Clinton.Jan 29, 2018

How old was Janet Reno when she was diagnosed with Parkinson's?

Reno, who was the first female attorney general in the United States, was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1995 (at age 57), while she was still in office, and she held the position until 2001. She died at her home in Miami-Dade County, Florida, according to The New York Times. Original article on Live Science.Nov 7, 2016

How did Janet Reno die?

Janet Reno, the first woman to serve as United States attorney general, died on Monday at 78. She died of complications from Parkinson’s disease, according to her family. Credit Credit... Ms. Reno was never a natural fit in Washington’s backslapping, competitive culture.

Where was Janet Reno born?

Janet Reno was born in Miami, on the edge of the Everglades, on July 21, 1938, to Henry Olaf Reno and the former Jane Wood. Her father, born Henry Rasmussen in Denmark, came to the United States in 1913 with his own mother and father, who chose the name Reno off a map, believing it sounded more American. Image.

Who was the first woman to serve as Attorney General?

Janet Reno, First Woman to Serve as U.S. Attorney General, Dies at 78. Janet Reno in May 1993, a few months after President Bill Clinton nominated her to his cabinet. Credit... Janet Reno, who rose from a rustic life on the edge of the Everglades to become attorney general of the United States — the first woman to hold the job — ...

Where did Reno go to law school?

She won admission to Harvard Law School and graduated in 1963, one of a handful of women in her class of more than 500. Seeking to practice law in South Florida, Ms. Reno was turned down by one of the state’s best-known law firms, Steel Hector & Davis, and went to work for a smaller firm instead.

Who was the attorney general who settled on Reno?

Mr. Clinton, committed to appointing a woman as attorney general, settled on Ms. Reno after his first two choices — the corporate lawyer Zoë Baird and the federal judge Kimba Wood — withdrew their names in the face of criticism after it was disclosed that they had employed undocumented immigrants as nannies.

Who is Jane Reno?

Jane Reno, born in Georgia, was an eccentric naturalist who would have a profound effect on Ms. Reno. “Outspoken, outrageous, absolutely indifferent to others’ opinions, Jane Reno was truly one of a kind,” Paul Anderson, a former Miami Herald reporter, wrote in his biography of Janet Reno.

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Reno arrived at the Justice Department knowing no one, and was immediately plunged into the siege at the Branch Davidian compound outside Waco, Texas. Four federal agents had been killed and 16 wounded while serving a warrant to search for illegal guns.

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"Waco didn't make her hesitant: It made her insistent about getting her own information," observes Walter Dellinger, who served in two top Justice Department jobs under Reno.

When Your Family Member Does The Unthinkable

It paid off. The Unabomber's brother recognized the style and ideas in the essay and tipped off the FBI, ending the bomber's long reign of terror. Theodore Kaczynski, aka the Unabomber, is now serving a life term in a maximum security federal prison.

Senate Confirms Loretta Lynch As Attorney General

That combination of toughness and self-deprecating humor, plus her determination to protect the Justice Department from improper influence, made her a hero to many who worked for her.

What was Reno known for?

Despite this controversy, Reno became one of the most respected members of the Clinton administration in its first term, known for launching innovative programs designed to steer non-violent drug offenders away from jail and espousing the rights of criminal defendants.

Where did Janet Reno go to law school?

After attending Cornell University for her undergraduate degree and Harvard Law School in 1960, Janet Reno worked as an attorney in Florida for several years. Her work in Florida as an attorney and as county prosecutor from 1978 to 1993 established Reno's stern and liberal reputation.

Who was the leader of the Branch Davidians?

In early 1993, cult leader David Koresh and his followers, known as the Branch Davidians, ended up in a 51-day standoff with agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Reno was called upon to help resolve the situation.

Did Reno run for governor?

After leaving the post in 2001, Reno returned to Florida. She ran for governor in 2002, but failed to win the Democratic nomination. Since then, Reno largely stayed out of public life. She did, however, testify before the federal 9/11 commission in 2004 and voice her opposition to some of the nation’s anti-terrorism policies through a legal brief in 2006.

Where was Janet Reno born?

Early Life and Career. Janet Reno was born in Miami, Florida on July 21, 1938. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Cornell University in 1960, she attended Harvard Law School. Reno graduated in 1963 and returned to her native Florida. After several years in private practice, Reno ran for county prosecutor for Dade County in ...

Who was the unabomber in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing?

Reno was also in charge during the Justice Department's prosecution of several high-profile cases including the convictions of Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman for his role in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing; Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols for their deadly bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City; and Ted Kaczynski, who became known as the “Unabomber” for a 17-year domestic terrorist campaign of mailing letter bombs.

Who is the youngest Jackson?

Janet Jackson, the youngest sibling in the musical Jackson family, is one of the best-selling artists in contemporary history. Her roster of albums includes 'Control,' 'Rhythm Nation 1814,' 'The Velvet Rope' and 'Unbreakable.'

Who was the first African American woman?

October 20, 1964 -. On January 20, 2021, Kamala D. Harris became the first woman, the first African American woman, the first Indian-American, the first person of Asian-American descent, and the first graduate of an HBCU to be sworn in as the Vice President of the United States of America. As she said in her election acceptance speech, she “may be ...

Why did Biden choose Kamala Harris as his running mate?

Because of her commitment to fighting injustice, her eloquence, and capabilities for leadership and governance , President-Elect Joseph R. Biden chose Harris as his running mate. This pick made Harris the fourth woman on a major party's national ticket and the second African American on a presidential ticket.

When was Harris elected?

In 2003, Harris was elected as the District Attorney of the City and County of San Francisco. As a lawyer, Harris immediately began breaking glass ceilings. In 2010, Harris was elected as the first African American and first woman to serve as California's Attorney General.

Where was Kamala Harris born?

Kamala Harris has spent her life breaking glass ceilings. Born on October 20, 1964 in Oakland, California, Harris is the daughter of immigrants. Her father was born in Jamaica and her mother was born in India. After her parents divorced, Harris and her younger sister Maya were raised by their mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, a single parent.

Who was the second woman to be the Attorney General?

Loretta Lynch was the second woman to hold the job of Attorney General; Janet Reno held the job from 1993-2001 under President Bill Clinton …. Loretta Lynch married Stephen Hargrove in 2007, according to the Associated Press. Janet Reno.

When was Lynch confirmed?

Her confirmation was delayed by political maneuvering in the U.S. Senate, but the Senate finally confirmed her on April 23, 2015. She served in the job until Obama left office in January of 2017. Lynch was succeeded as Attorney General by Jeff Sessions.

Where was Charlotte Ray born?

Charlotte E. Ray was born in New York City on January 13, 1850. After graduating from college in 1869, Ray became a teacher at Howard University, where she would later register in the Law Department. In fear that she would not be admitted due to her gender, Ray registered as C.E. Ray. Charlotte Ray graduated from the Howard University School ...

Who was the first black woman to be admitted to the bar?

Charlotte Ray graduated from the Howard University School of Law on February 27, 1872, and was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar on March 2, 1872, making her the first black female attorney in the United States. She was also admitted as the first black female to practice in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia on April 23, 1872.

Where was Barbara Jordan born?

Barbara Jordan was born in Houston, Texas on February 21, 1936. Due to segregation, Jordan could not attend The University of Texas at Austin, and instead chose Texas Southern University, a historically-black institution. After majoring in political science, Jordan attended Boston University School of law in 1956 and graduated in 1959.

Who was Jane Bolin?

She was the daughter of Gaius C. Bolin, a lawyer and the first black person to graduate from Williams College. At 16, she enrolled at Wellesley College where she was one of only two black freshmen. Bolin graduated in the top 20 of her class in 1928.

Where was Kamala Harris born?

Kamala Harris was born in Oakland, CA on October 20, 1964. By the time she attended kindergarten, Harris was being bused to school as part of a desegregation program. Throughout her childhood, children in her neighborhood were permitted from playing with her and her sister because they were Black.

Who was the first black woman to be a judge?

On July 22, 1939, Mayor of New York City, Fiorello La Guardia, appointed Bolin as a judge of the Domestic Relations Court, making Bolin the first black woman to serve as a judge in the United States. Bolin proceeded to be the only black female judge in the country for twenty years. Bolin remained a judge of the court for 40 years ...

Who was Constance Baker Motley?

Baker was inspired to attend law school after hearing a speech by Yale Law School graduate George Crawford, a civil rights attorney for the New Haven Branch of the NAACP.

Overview

Firsts nationwide

Firsts in individual states

Firsts in Washington, D.C. (Federal District)

Firsts in the Territories of the U.S.

See also

Other topics of interest