Bill Schuette
| Bill Schuette | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 53rd Attorney General of Michigan | |
|
Assumed office January 1, 2011 | |
| Governor | Rick Snyder |
| Preceded by | Mike Cox |
| Member of the Michigan Senate from the 35th district | |
|
In office January 1, 1995 – December 31, 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Joanne Emmons |
| Succeeded by | Michelle McManus |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 10th district | |
|
In office January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1991 | |
| Preceded by | Donald Albosta |
| Succeeded by | Dave Camp |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Duncan Schuette October 8, 1953 Midland, Michigan, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater |
Georgetown University University of San Francisco |
| Website | Official website |
William Duncan "Bill" Schuette (/ˈʃuːtiː/ SHOO-tee;[1] born October 13, 1953) is an American Republican politician and the Attorney General of Michigan.[2]
Early life
Schuette was born in Midland, Michigan, where he graduated from Herbert Henry Dow High School in 1972. He attended Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and in 1976 graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in the Foreign Service. He also studied at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and received a J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1979. Schuette was admitted to the Michigan bar in 1981.[3]
2010 election
Schuette was elected Attorney General in 2010. Schuette received 53% of the vote to 41% for longtime Democratic prosecutor David Leyton.[4]
Political career
Schuette was a delegate to the Michigan Republican conventions in 1972, 1974, and 1982.
In November 1984, at the age of 31, Schuette defeated incumbent Democrat Donald J. Albosta for a seat in the United States House of Representatives from Michigan's 10th congressional district. Schuette was re-elected to the two succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1985 until January 3, 1991. He did not seek re-election in 1990, but unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Democrat Carl Levin for his seat in the United States Senate. While in Congress, Schuette served on the House Budget Committee, the House Agriculture Committee and the House Select Committee on Aging.
In January 1991, Schuette was named by then-Governor John Engler as the director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture, where he served until 1993. While director, Schuette and his wife Cynthia created the Michigan Harvest Gathering, a food and fund drive to help feed hungry people throughout the state. Joining with the Food Bank Council of Michigan, the Michigan Harvest Gathering has raised more than $4 million and 6 million pounds of food over a 12-year period.
In November 1994, he was elected to the Michigan Senate from the 35th District, where he served until 2003. In 2001, Schuette was selected by President George W. Bush to be his personal representative to Australian-American Friendship Week in Australia.
In November 2002, he was elected a judge of the Michigan Court of Appeals. His term expired January 1, 2009.
In 2008, Michigan voters considered a ballot initiative to establish a medical marijuana program for registered patients with qualifying conditions. Schuette served as a spokesperson for a group opposed to the proposed law.[5] After leaving the judiciary, Schuette worked for Warner, Norcross & Judd, one of Michigan's largest law firms.
On November 2, 2010, Schuette won the election to become Michigan Attorney General.
In September 2011, petition language to recall Schuette was approved by Midland County authorities, allowing the circulating of recall petitions. Among the grievances cited are his attempts to undermine the medical marijuana law approved by voters in 2008.[6][7]
In 2011, Schuette filed suit to close two Michigan abortion clinics on grounds of improper record disposal.[8]
Before the Supreme Court's 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, Schuette fought against same-sex marriage.[9]
On August 19, 2015, Schuette endorsed Jeb Bush for president.[10]
Gubernatorial ambitions
Schuette is widely believed to be eying Michigan's Governor Mansion.[11] This seems to be backed up by reports of a falling out between the Attorney General and Governor Rick Snyder.
References
- Bill Schuette at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- The Political Graveyard
- Fourth District Judges
- ↑ "Washington Talk: Briefing; Names to Know". New York Times. 31 December 1987. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
- ↑ AG-elect Bill Schuette announces transition team - Chicago Tribune, 5 November 2010
- ↑ "Bill Schuette—P32532 (active and in good standing)". State Bar of Michigan. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
- ↑ Michigan's, Official Website. "Biography of Attorney General". Retrieved 2012-11-27.
- ↑ "Is marijuana good medicine?". the Detroit Free Press. 2008-10-25.
- ↑ http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2011/09/medical_marijuana_advocate_win.html
- ↑ http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2011/08/medical_marijuana_advocate_fil.html
- ↑ http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2011/11/attorney_general_bill_schuette_1.html
- ↑ http://michiganradio.org/post/even-scotus-decision-fight-over-lgbt-rights-michigan-continues#stream/0
- ↑ http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/08/19/schuette-jeb-bush/31981731/
- ↑ http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2015/03/michigan_political_points_bill.html
External links
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Donald Albosta |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 10th congressional district 1985–1991 |
Succeeded by Dave Camp |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by Mike Cox |
Attorney General of Michigan 2011–present |
Incumbent |
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