The Honorable
Janet Reno
Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
Chair
Janet Reno was sworn in as the Nation's first woman Attorney General
by President Clinton on March 12, 1993. Her priorities include
prevention and early intervention efforts to keep children away
from gangs, drugs, and violence, and on the road to strong, healthy,
and self-sufficient lives. From 1978 until the time of her appointment,
Ms. Reno served as the State's attorney for Dade County, FL.
She was initially appointed to the position by the Governor of
Florida and was subsequently elected to that office five times.
While State's attorney, Ms. Reno focused attention on prevention
programs that enabled children to grow in a safe, constructive
environment. She helped reform the juvenile justice system and
pursued delinquent fathers for child support payments. Ms. Reno
also helped establish the Miami Drug Court, which has been a
model for -courts around the country. The drug court provides
alternative punishment for nonviolent offenders who have a substance
abuse problem. More than half of those who have completed the
program remain free of drugs. Ms. Reno was also a partner in
the Miami-based law firm of Steel, Hector & Davis from 1976
to 1978. Prior to that, she served as an assistant State's attorney
and as staff director of the Florida House of Representatives
Judiciary Committee. Ms. Reno received her bachelor's degree
in chemistry from Cornell University and her juris doctor degree
from Harvard Law School.
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