Jeanine Pirro

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Andreldritch (talk | contribs) at 18:30, 27 November 2017 (→‎Early life: Eliminated redundancy. High schools understood to be four years.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Jeanine Pirro
District Attorney of Westchester County
In office
January 1, 1994 – January 1, 2006
Preceded byCarl A. Vergari
Succeeded byJanet DiFiore
Chair of the New York State Commission on Domestic Violence Fatalities
In office
January 1, 1997 – January 1, 2006
GovernorGeorge Pataki
Preceded byVernon J. Geberth
Personal details
Born
Jeanine Ferris

(1951-06-02) June 2, 1951 (age 72)
Elmira, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseAlbert Pirro (1975–2013)
Children2
Alma materState University of New York,
Buffalo (BA)
Union University, New York
(JD)

Jeanine Ferris Pirro (born June 2, 1951) is a former judge and District Attorney from the state of New York and a media personality. Pirro hosts Fox News Channel's Justice with Judge Jeanine and contributes on NBC's Today show. A Republican from Chemung County, New York, Pirro was the first female judge on the Westchester County Court bench before being elected the first female district attorney of Westchester County, serving for 12 years.[1] As District Attorney, Pirro gained considerable visibility in cases of domestic abuse and of crimes against the elderly. Pirro was the Republican nominee for New York Attorney General in 2006.

Biography

Early life

Pirro was born in Elmira, New York, to Nasser "Leo" and Esther (née Awad) Ferris, both first-generation Lebanese-Americans. Her father was a mobile-home salesman; her mother was a department-store model.

She graduated from Notre Dame High School in three years [2] and then graduated with a B.A. (magna cum laude with Phi Beta Kappa membership) from the University at Buffalo. She received her J.D. degree at Albany Law School of Union University in 1975. During law school, she was an editor of the law review.[3] She is a practicing Catholic.[4]

Marriage

Jeanine Ferris married Albert Pirro, a lobbyist, in 1975. The couple had a son and a daughter. In 2000, Albert Pirro was convicted of federal tax evasion and conspiracy of over $1 million,[5] which was seen as possibly hurting his wife's legal and political career prospects.[6] The conviction was so damaging to her political career that she seriously considered resigning from her position as a state district attorney and taking a more lucrative post in the private sector.[7]

In the midst of her 2006 state attorney general campaign, Pirro revealed she was the subject of a federal investigation into whether she illegally taped her husband's conversations to catch him committing adultery.[8] The couple announced they were separating in November 2007 and finalized their divorce in 2013.[9][10]

After her husband was released from prison, Pirro received significant political contributions from his associates, including contractors and realtors who had done business with her husband, for her several unsuccessful attempts to hold higher office.[11]

Westchester County legal career

In 1975, Pirro was appointed an Assistant District Attorney (ADA) in New York's Westchester County.

In November 1990, Pirro was elected a Westchester County Court Judge, the first woman to be so elected. In November 1993, she was elected Westchester County District Attorney, again the first woman to hold that position in the county. She was re-elected in 1997 and 2001. On May 23, 2005, Pirro announced that she would not seek re-election as Westchester County District Attorney.[12]

Pirro was the first female president of the New York State District Attorneys Association. Also while District Attorney, she was appointed by then Governor George Pataki to chair the New York State Commission on Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board. Its report and recommendations resulted in legislation passing that enhanced protections of, and safeguards for, the victims of domestic abuse.[13]

While the District Attorney, Pirro appeared on television programs such as Larry King Live and Nightline. In 1997, People magazine named her as one of its 50 Most Beautiful People.[14]

Pirro made her biggest procedural mistake as District Attorney when she repeatedly refused to reopen the case of Jeffrey Deskovic.[15] In 1990, Deskovic was falsely convicted of murder and spent 16 years in prison for a crime that he did not commit.

Political career

1986 governor's race

In May 1986, Republican gubernatorial candidate Andrew O'Rourke selected Pirro to be his running mate.[16] However, two days later, Pirro withdrew without giving a reason and was quickly replaced by Michael Kavanagh.[17]

2006 U.S. Senate campaign

On August 10, 2005, Pirro announced that she would seek the Republican nomination to challenge first-term incumbent senator Hillary Clinton, a Democrat, in the 2006 election for U.S. Senator from New York. Other Republicans who announced campaigns for the nomination were John Spencer, a former mayor of Yonkers, William Brenner, an attorney in Sullivan County, and attorney Edward Cox, the son-in-law of former president Richard Nixon. In a widely publicized moment when she was declaring her candidacy, Pirro misplaced page 10 of her speech and went silent for 32 seconds, something that is widely considered to have damaged her campaign before it even started.[18]

During an appearance at the Crime Victims Resource Center, Pirro described herself this way: "I am red on fiscal policy. I am conservative and I support the Bush tax cut." She added, however: "I have broad blue stripes when it comes to social issues... I am a woman who is a moderate in New York."[19] Republican governor George Pataki's endorsement of Pirro caused Cox to withdraw from the race,[20] leaving Pirro as the likely nominee. Donors to Pirro's political campaign included designer Tommy Hilfiger (also a native of Elmira) and Donald Trump, as well as contractors and real estate executives who had done business with her husband.[21]

On December 21, 2005, after continuing pressure from party chiefs, a lagging fundraising effort, and polls showing she would be easily defeated by Clinton (a Quinnipiac University poll found Pirro would lose to Clinton 62 percent to 30 percent), Pirro dropped out of the Senate race. In a statement, she said "I have decided that my law enforcement background better qualifies me for a race for New York State attorney general than a race for the United States Senate."[22] Spencer was eventually chosen as the Republican Party's nominee for the U.S. Senate.[23]

2006 State attorney general campaign

Main article: New York attorney general election, 2006

On May 31, 2006, Pirro was unopposed for the nomination and became the Republican party's official candidate for attorney general by acclamation at the state GOP convention.[24] She also received the nominations of the New York Conservative and Independence Parties. Pirro lost the general election to the Democratic nominee, former Clinton Housing and Urban Development Secretary and future Governor Andrew Cuomo 58%–39%.[25]

Personal life

Later in life, she returned to the private sector and began a new career as a TV personality.[26]

On November 19, 2017, Pirro was ticketed in upstate New York near her hometown of Elmira for driving her 2017 Cadillac 119 miles-per-hour in a 65 mph zone.[27][28] If Pirro doesn't plead guilty by mail, she is due in Nichols Town Court on January 8. [29]

Media career

Pirro has been a regular contributor to The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet. She is currently contributing to Today, Fox NY Good Day New York, is a Fox News legal analyst appearing on various shows, and has guest hosted shows such as Larry King Live, The Joy Behar Show, and Geraldo at Large. She is a frequent guest on Fox's late-night satire show Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld.[30]

In 2003 Pirro released the nonfiction book To Punish and Protect, describing life inside the criminal justice system. In 2012, with the assistance of author Pete Earley, Pirro wrote the novel Sly Fox based on her own experiences as a 25-year-old assistant district attorney in Westchester.[30]

Pirro appears in the HBO six-part serial The Jinx, recounting her perspective on the 1983 disappearance of Kathie Durst, a high-profile case for which she was the investigating attorney. Pirro was the host of the American reality prime time court show You the Jury, canceled after two episodes.

Judge Jeanine Pirro on The CW

On May 5, 2008, The CW announced that Pirro would host a weekday television show to be named Judge Jeanine Pirro, part of the network's CW Daytime lineup, with two episodes airing daily. The show was distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television and was carried by default on all CW affiliate stations.[31]

Judge Jeanine Pirro was cleared for a second season beginning in fall 2009. Unlike its first season, the second season, which began in the fall of 2009, was not exclusive to CW affiliates.[32] In May 2010, the show received its first Emmy nomination, and in 2011, received the daytime Emmy Award. In September 2011 the show was canceled due to low ratings.

Justice with Judge Jeanine on Fox News Channel

Pirro is now the host of Fox News Channel's Justice with Judge Jeanine, which premiered in January 2011. The program airs on weekends and focuses on the big legal stories of the week.[33]

Political positions

Pirro supported Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential race, while also noting that she was "infuriated" by some of his behaviors.[34]

Pirro is a supporter of affirmative action. She supports a woman's right to an abortion, including being supportive of U.S. taxpayer funding of abortion through Medicaid,[35] though she has been opposed to late-term abortions. On gun control Pirro said on her Fox TV show in December 2015, Justice with Judge Jeanine,

Get a gun, buy one legally, learn how to shoot it and be primed to use it. And, I don't care if you get a long gun, a hand gun, a revolver or a semi automatic. Get whatever gun you can handle and don't let anyone talk you out of it. The second amendment of the Constitution and the United States Supreme Court confirm your right to have one.[36]

However, Pirro has been criticized for actions that appear inconsistent with her commitment to the Constitution. Although she has warned of a "fascist, totalitarian" movement "trying to silence" free speech under the First Amendment, Pirro banned the press from reporting on her speech at the California Republican Party annual convention in October, 2017. Journalists were allowed to cover other events at the convention, and there were no signs of any danger to Pirro or other speakers at the event.[37]

References

  1. ^ "Former District Attorneys". Westchester County District Attorney. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  2. ^ "Pirro's second act". Archived from the original on November 2, 2005. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Jeanine Pirro". LinkedIn.[unreliable source?]
  4. ^ Pirro, Jeanine; Whitney, Catherine (16 June 2015). To Punish and Protect: Against a System That Coddles Criminals. St. Martin's Press. p. 118. ISBN 9781250087942.
  5. ^ "Federal Jury Convicts Pirro On All Tax-Fraud Charges". June 23, 2000. Retrieved 2016-07-11.
  6. ^ Foderaro, Lisa W. (July 27, 2000). "Pirro Faces Questions About Future as Prosecutor". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 14, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ By Lisa W. Foderaro Published: July 27, 2000 (2000-07-27). "Pirro Faces Questions About Future as Prosecutor - New York Times". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on November 14, 2013. Retrieved 2016-04-10. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Hicks, Jonathan P. (October 3, 2006). "Pirro Smiles for Cameras, Seeking to Repair Her Image". The New York Times. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  9. ^ Kathleen Lucadamo; Celeste Katz (November 18, 2007). "It's splitsville for Jeanine and Al Pirro". Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ Finn, Robin (December 6, 2009). "Leniency for the Judge's Animals". The New York Times. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  11. ^ "'MY OWN WOMAN' Pirro defends her record in an explosive interview W'CHESTER DA SHOUTS: 'I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT MY HUSBAND!' - NY Daily News". 3 July 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-07-03. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ "Jeanine Pirro will not seek re-election as county DA". Archived from the original on May 25, 2005. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ "Judge Jeanine Pirro". Fox News Insider. Archived from the original on July 3, 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ Gray, Kevin (May 10, 1999). "Pirro Mania". New York Metro. Archived from the original on May 28, 2006. Retrieved January 5, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/pull-jeanine-pirro-show-jail-hell-article-1.321706
  16. ^ Lynn, Frank (May 27, 1986). "A Prosecutor Is Picked To Run With O'rourke". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 3, 2014. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |newspaper= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ Lynn, Frank (May 29, 1986). "Surprise G.O.P. Candidate Leaves Race". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 3, 2014. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |newspaper= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ "Media Tip: How to Recover From a Brain Freeze". Political Wire. December 31, 2012. Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2012. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ "| democratandchronicle.com". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved January 5, 2011. [dead link]
  20. ^ Raymond Hernandez; Michael Cooper (October 15, 2005). "Pirro's Path to Republican Nomination Is Clearer, but Obstacles Remain". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 17, 2013. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |newspaper= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ Greg B. Smith (May 9, 2005). "'MY OWN WOMAN' Pirro defends her record in an explosive interview W'CHESTER DA SHOUTS: 'I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT MY HUSBAND!'". Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on July 3, 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ CBS News Archived January 9, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  23. ^ "Spencer Wins Senate Nod, Pirro Accepts AG Spot At GOP Convention". NY1. May 31, 2006. Archived from the original on July 7, 2014. Retrieved December 23, 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ "Regional & NY State News on". Newsday.com. Retrieved January 5, 2011. [dead link]
  25. ^ Elections.ny.gov Archived 2013-11-05 at the Wayback Machine
  26. ^ http://odssf.com/biography/jeanine-pirro
  27. ^ http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/fox-news-jeanine-pirro-charged-driving-119-mph-upstate-article-1.3646308
  28. ^ http://www.lohud.com/story/news/2017/11/20/jeanine-pirro-fox-news-ticketed-driving-119-mph/881345001/
  29. ^ https://nypost.com/2017/11/20/fox-news-personality-jeanine-pirro-busted-for-driving-119-mph/
  30. ^ a b Sherryl Connelly (July 23, 2012). "TV judge Jeanine Pirro publishes her first novel, 'Sly Fox,' using some of her own history as inspiration". Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on April 23, 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  31. ^ "Former NY DA Pirro gets TV show". Daily News. Associated Press. May 5, 2008. Archived from the original on July 3, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  32. ^ Paige Albiniak (February 9, 2009). "'Pirro' Preps for Fall Launch". Broadcasting & Cable. Archived from the original on September 25, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  33. ^ Alex Weprin (December 21, 2010). "Jeanine Pirro To Host Weekend Show for Fox News". Archived from the original on June 17, 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  34. ^ "Judge Jeanine: I Still Support Donald Trump".
  35. ^ "Helping Hillary now will hurt the Republicans later". TheHill. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  36. ^ Bumiller, Elisabeth (1999-01-28). "PUBLIC LIVES - In High-Profile Race of Maybes, Add Pirro". New York State; Westchester County (Ny): NYTimes.com. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  37. ^ Nazaryan, Alexander. "Fox News' Judge Jeanine Doesn't Want the Media to Know What She Told California Republicans". Newsweek. Retrieved 23 October 2017.

External links

Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Attorney General of New York
2006 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jeanine_Pirro&oldid=812408514"