Chuck Rosenthal (district attorney)
Encyclopedia
Charles A. "Chuck" Rosenthal, Jr. (born February 7, 1946) is an American
lawyer
who was formerly the District Attorney
of Harris County
, Texas
, United States
.
, Texas, Rosenthal attended Houston public schools, received his undergraduate degree from Baylor University
, and went to law school at South Texas College of Law
. He served as Harris County
assistant district attorney under Carol Vance
starting in March 1977.
After his predecessor, Johnny Holmes, retired, Rosenthal was elected Harris County
District Attorney
after facing Pat Lykos
, County Attorney Michael Stafford and many others in the Republican
primary. He was re-elected in 2004.
On March 26, 2003, he argued before the Supreme Court of the United States
in Lawrence v. Texas
that laws against sodomy
are constitutional. The Court disagreed with him, holding 6-3 that prosecutions for private sexual conduct violates the United States Constitution
.
Rosenthal is currently married to Cindy Rosenthal, a retired FBI Special Agent.
On February 15, 2008, Chuck Rosenthal resigned as Harris County district attorney, following the filing of a lawsuit petitioning for his removal from office. The press release issued by Rosenthal suggests substance abuse played a part in his decision. Rosenthal's official release claims, "Although I have enjoyed excellent medical and pharmacological treatment, I have come to learn that the particular combination of drugs prescribed for me in the past has caused some impairment in my judgment." The same lawsuit also called for the removal of Sheriff
Tommy Thomas
.
District Attorney
's office were under subpoena. Some of those emails exposed his extramarital affair with his secretary as well as being found to be using government computers for campaigning and receiving and sending racist emails. After an emergency meeting with local GOP leaders, the GOP asked him to step aside and to not seek reelection. On January 4, 2008, he announced that he would not seek reelection, but would finish out his current term.
Quanell X
called for his resignation and organized a rally that took place outside the county courthouse January 24, 2008.
Other controversies involving Chuck Rosenthal included:
On February 15, 2008, Rosenthal resigned shortly after a lawsuit was filed by attorney Lloyd Kelley, seeking to remove Rosenthal from office on the grounds of official misconduct, incompetency or intoxication.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
who was formerly the District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
of Harris County
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Biography
Born in AliceAlice, Texas
At the 2000 census, there were 19,010 people, 6,400 households and 4,915 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,597.4 per square mile . There were 6,998 housing units at an average density of 588.0 per square mile...
, Texas, Rosenthal attended Houston public schools, received his undergraduate degree from Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
, and went to law school at South Texas College of Law
South Texas College of Law
South Texas College of Law is a private American Bar Association accredited law school and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools...
. He served as Harris County
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
assistant district attorney under Carol Vance
Carol Vance
Carol S. Vance is a former district attorney of Harris County , Texas, from 1966–1979, and a former board member of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, which governs the Texas Department of Criminal Justice...
starting in March 1977.
After his predecessor, Johnny Holmes, retired, Rosenthal was elected Harris County
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
after facing Pat Lykos
Pat Lykos
Patricia R. "Pat" Lykos is an American lawyer who is the District Attorney of Harris County, Texas, United States. She defeated Democrat Brad Bradford in the general election on November 4, 2008. She survived the March 2008 primary, coming in second and receiving enough votes to qualify for the...
, County Attorney Michael Stafford and many others in the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
primary. He was re-elected in 2004.
On March 26, 2003, he argued before the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
in Lawrence v. Texas
Lawrence v. Texas
Lawrence v. Texas, 539 U.S. 558 , is a landmark United States Supreme Court case. In the 6-3 ruling, the Court struck down the sodomy law in Texas and, by proxy, invalidated sodomy laws in the thirteen other states where they remained in existence, thereby making same-sex sexual activity legal in...
that laws against sodomy
Sodomy
Sodomy is an anal or other copulation-like act, especially between male persons or between a man and animal, and one who practices sodomy is a "sodomite"...
are constitutional. The Court disagreed with him, holding 6-3 that prosecutions for private sexual conduct violates the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
.
Rosenthal is currently married to Cindy Rosenthal, a retired FBI Special Agent.
On February 15, 2008, Chuck Rosenthal resigned as Harris County district attorney, following the filing of a lawsuit petitioning for his removal from office. The press release issued by Rosenthal suggests substance abuse played a part in his decision. Rosenthal's official release claims, "Although I have enjoyed excellent medical and pharmacological treatment, I have come to learn that the particular combination of drugs prescribed for me in the past has caused some impairment in my judgment." The same lawsuit also called for the removal of Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
Tommy Thomas
Tommy Thomas (sheriff)
Tommy Thomas is the former Republican sheriff of Harris County, Texas.-Biography:Tommy Thomas was sworn in as the 27th Sheriff of Harris County on June 28, 1995. He was elected to his 3rd four-year term in November 2004. Sheriff Thomas started his public service career as a member of the United...
.
Controversies
In a federal court case, emails in the Harris CountyHarris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
's office were under subpoena. Some of those emails exposed his extramarital affair with his secretary as well as being found to be using government computers for campaigning and receiving and sending racist emails. After an emergency meeting with local GOP leaders, the GOP asked him to step aside and to not seek reelection. On January 4, 2008, he announced that he would not seek reelection, but would finish out his current term.
Quanell X
Quanell X
Quanell X is the leader of the New Black Panther Party in Houston, Texas.-Early life:Quanell Ralph Evans was born in Los Angeles, California. Both parents were Nation of Islam converts...
called for his resignation and organized a rally that took place outside the county courthouse January 24, 2008.
Other controversies involving Chuck Rosenthal included:
- Multiple Houston-area community groups called for Rosenthal's resignation, as well as the resignation of Harris CountyHarris County, TexasAs of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
sheriffSheriffA sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
Tommy ThomasTommy Thomas (sheriff)Tommy Thomas is the former Republican sheriff of Harris County, Texas.-Biography:Tommy Thomas was sworn in as the 27th Sheriff of Harris County on June 28, 1995. He was elected to his 3rd four-year term in November 2004. Sheriff Thomas started his public service career as a member of the United...
for similarly racist e-mails. Community groups are sensitive to racism because Rosenthal "presides over an office that sends more convicts to death row than any other prosecutor's office in the nation." - The TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
attorney general's office investigated whether e-mails discovered in the DA's county computer were evidence of criminal activity, such as Rosenthal's alleged use of public assets to engage in his now-withdrawn political re-election campaign. - 32 indictments were thrown out due to a paperwork snafu under Rosenthal's watch.
- Approved a former lover's $11,000 raise
- On 28-March-2008, Rosenthal was found in contempt of court for destroying 2,500 e-mails subpoenaed in a federal court case.
- Harris CountyHarris County, TexasAs of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
taxpayers paid US$400 per hour for attorney fees to represent Rosenthal in his contempt hearing. Although the contract was capped at US$50,000, taxpayers were expected to pay the full bill.
On February 15, 2008, Rosenthal resigned shortly after a lawsuit was filed by attorney Lloyd Kelley, seeking to remove Rosenthal from office on the grounds of official misconduct, incompetency or intoxication.
External links
- Welcome to the Harris County District Attorney's Office Note: Rosenthal has resigned as Harris County District Attorney as of February 15, 2008.
- Re-Elect Chuck Rosenthal for Harris County District Attorney