JANET RENO
Name: Janet Reno
Born: 21 July 1938 Miami, Florida
Janet Reno (born July 21, 1938) was the first and to date only female Attorney
General of the United States (1993–2001). She was nominated by President Bill
Clinton on February 11, 1993, and confirmed on March 11. She was the second
longest serving Attorney General after William Wirt.
Reno's father, Henry Reno (original surname Rasmussen), immigrated to the United
States from Denmark and for forty-three years was a police reporter for the
Miami Herald. Jane Wood, Reno's mother, raised her children and then became
an investigative reporter for the Miami News. Janet Reno has three younger
siblings. She is the sister of columnist Robert Reno, and aunt to model Hunter
Reno. She was one of two Danish Americans in the cabinet, the other being Lloyd
Bentsen.
Reno attended public school in Miami-Dade County, Florida, where she was a
debating champion and was valedictorian at Coral Gables High School. In 1956
Reno enrolled at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where she majored in
chemistry, lived in Balch Hall, became president of the Women's Self-Government
Association, and earned her room and board.
In 1960, Reno enrolled at Harvard Law School, one of only sixteen women in a
class of more than 500 students. She received her LL.B. from Harvard three years
later.
In 1971, Reno was named staff director of the Judiciary Committee of the Florida
House of Representatives. She helped revise the Florida court system. In 1973
she accepted a position with the Dade County State's Attorney's Office. During
this time, questions about Reno's sexual orientation became a major part of
Republican opponent Jack Thompson's campaign against her, who demanded to know
her sexual orientation. She left the state's attorney's office in 1976 to
become a partner in a private law firm.
In 1978, Reno was appointed State Attorney for Dade County (now called Miami-Dade
County). She was elected to the Office of State Attorney in November 1978 and
was returned to office by the voters four more times. She helped reform the
juvenile justice system and pursued delinquent fathers for child support
payments and established the Miami Drug Court.
During her time in Dade County, she was the lead prosecutor in a police
brutality case. She was unable to convict any of the four officers charged with
beating Arthur McDuffie in 1979.
In 1995, Reno was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.
Name: Janet Reno
Born: 21 July 1938 Miami, Florida
Janet Reno (born July 21, 1938) was the first and to date only female Attorney
General of the United States (1993–2001). She was nominated by President Bill
Clinton on February 11, 1993, and confirmed on March 11. She was the second
longest serving Attorney General after William Wirt.
Reno's father, Henry Reno (original surname Rasmussen), immigrated to the United
States from Denmark and for forty-three years was a police reporter for the
Miami Herald. Jane Wood, Reno's mother, raised her children and then became
an investigative reporter for the Miami News. Janet Reno has three younger
siblings. She is the sister of columnist Robert Reno, and aunt to model Hunter
Reno. She was one of two Danish Americans in the cabinet, the other being Lloyd
Bentsen.
Reno attended public school in Miami-Dade County, Florida, where she was a
debating champion and was valedictorian at Coral Gables High School. In 1956
Reno enrolled at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where she majored in
chemistry, lived in Balch Hall, became president of the Women's Self-Government
Association, and earned her room and board.
In 1960, Reno enrolled at Harvard Law School, one of only sixteen women in a
class of more than 500 students. She received her LL.B. from Harvard three years
later.
In 1971, Reno was named staff director of the Judiciary Committee of the Florida
House of Representatives. She helped revise the Florida court system. In 1973
she accepted a position with the Dade County State's Attorney's Office. During
this time, questions about Reno's sexual orientation became a major part of
Republican opponent Jack Thompson's campaign against her, who demanded to know
her sexual orientation. She left the state's attorney's office in 1976 to
become a partner in a private law firm.
In 1978, Reno was appointed State Attorney for Dade County (now called Miami-Dade
County). She was elected to the Office of State Attorney in November 1978 and
was returned to office by the voters four more times. She helped reform the
juvenile justice system and pursued delinquent fathers for child support
payments and established the Miami Drug Court.
During her time in Dade County, she was the lead prosecutor in a police
brutality case. She was unable to convict any of the four officers charged with
beating Arthur McDuffie in 1979.
In 1995, Reno was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.