Difference between revisions of "Alberto Gonzales"
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Judge Gonzales worked as a business lawyer for 13 years at the Houston law firm of Vinson & Elkins. In 1995 he resigned his law partnership to serve as General Counsel to the Governor of Texas. After three years the Governor appointed him Texas Secretary of State where he served as Senior Advisor to the Governor, Chief Elections Officer and the Governor’s lead liaison on Mexico and border issues. In 1999 the Governor appointed him as a Justice on the Supreme Court of Texas. | Judge Gonzales worked as a business lawyer for 13 years at the Houston law firm of Vinson & Elkins. In 1995 he resigned his law partnership to serve as General Counsel to the Governor of Texas. After three years the Governor appointed him Texas Secretary of State where he served as Senior Advisor to the Governor, Chief Elections Officer and the Governor’s lead liaison on Mexico and border issues. In 1999 the Governor appointed him as a Justice on the Supreme Court of Texas. | ||
| − | + | After winning a statewide election in 2000 to remain on the Texas Supreme Court, Judge Gonzales resigned from the bench to accept a commission as Counsel to the President of the United States. He served as White House Counsel for four years prior to his confirmation as Attorney General at the age of 49. | |
Judge Gonzales was with the President when he returned to Washington on September 11, 2001 as he began to formulate the nation’s response to the terrorist attacks against the United States. As Attorney General, Judge Gonzales maintained the Department’s focus on its key objectives, including preventing acts of terrorism and reducing the threats of gangs, drugs, and violent crime. | Judge Gonzales was with the President when he returned to Washington on September 11, 2001 as he began to formulate the nation’s response to the terrorist attacks against the United States. As Attorney General, Judge Gonzales maintained the Department’s focus on its key objectives, including preventing acts of terrorism and reducing the threats of gangs, drugs, and violent crime. | ||
Revision as of 10:36, 12 August 2014
Alberto R. Gonzales (born August 4, 1955) was the 80th United States Attorney General, appointed in February 2005 by President George W. Bush, becoming the highest-ranking Hispanic in executive government to date. He was the first Hispanic to serve as White House Counsel, and earlier he had been Bush's General Counsel during his governorship of Texas. Gonzales had also served as Secretary of State of Texas and then as a Texas Supreme Court Justice.
Biography
Born in San Antonio, Texas, Judge Gonzales graduated from Texas public schools and then enlisted in the United States Air Force. After serving his country he accepted an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. Judge Gonzales attended the Academy for two years before transferring to and graduating from Rice University and Harvard Law School.
Judge Gonzales worked as a business lawyer for 13 years at the Houston law firm of Vinson & Elkins. In 1995 he resigned his law partnership to serve as General Counsel to the Governor of Texas. After three years the Governor appointed him Texas Secretary of State where he served as Senior Advisor to the Governor, Chief Elections Officer and the Governor’s lead liaison on Mexico and border issues. In 1999 the Governor appointed him as a Justice on the Supreme Court of Texas.
After winning a statewide election in 2000 to remain on the Texas Supreme Court, Judge Gonzales resigned from the bench to accept a commission as Counsel to the President of the United States. He served as White House Counsel for four years prior to his confirmation as Attorney General at the age of 49.
Judge Gonzales was with the President when he returned to Washington on September 11, 2001 as he began to formulate the nation’s response to the terrorist attacks against the United States. As Attorney General, Judge Gonzales maintained the Department’s focus on its key objectives, including preventing acts of terrorism and reducing the threats of gangs, drugs, and violent crime.
Among his many professional associations, Judge Gonzales is a member of the American Law Institute, former board director of the State Bar of Texas, and former president of the Houston Hispanic Bar Association. The State Bar of Texas awarded a Presidential Citation to Judge Gonzales for his work in addressing the legal needs of the indigent; and the National Hispanic Bar Association honored him as the Latino Lawyer of the Year. Early in his professional career, the Texas Young Lawyers Association selected Judge Gonzales as the Outstanding Young Lawyer of Texas.
Judge Gonzales has also been active in a wide range of community organizations, including serving as a board director of the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston. He presided as president of Leadership Houston and of the Houston Hispanic Forum. Presently he serves on the board of directors of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and the United Way of Metropolitan Nashville.
The Association of Rice Alumni has honored Judge Gonzales as a Distinguished Alumnus of Rice University. He also received the Harvard Law School Association Award from the Harvard Law School Association. Among his numerous other service awards, he was selected as one of Five Outstanding Young Texans by the Texas Junior Chamber of Commerce.
His work in the Hispanic community and his achievements as a role model have earned him recognition as Hispanic American of the Year by HISPANIC Magazine and one of The 25 Most Influential Hispanics in America by TIME Magazine.
Judge Gonzales is presently the Dean and Doyle Rogers Distinguished Professor of Law at Belmont University.
