Janet Reno
None (Deceased)
Miami Connection
As Dade County State Attorney, Reno created the Miami Drug Court, a victims’ advocacy program with trained counselors, and retained child abuse cases in family court for better continuity. Her initiatives addressed drug abuse, domestic violence, and juvenile justice in South Florida, earning her awards like Public Administrator of the Year from the South Florida Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration. Her lifelong Miami roots and family ties to local journalism amplified her influence on the region's legal and social landscape.
About
Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Janet Reno graduated from Cornell University and Harvard Law School before returning to start her legal career in private practice and government roles in Miami and Tallahassee. She served as staff director for the Florida House Judiciary Committee and helped revise the state's juvenile code and criminal laws. Appointed as the first female State Attorney for Dade County (Miami) in 1978, she was elected five times, focusing on drug courts, domestic violence programs, and child advocacy. President Bill Clinton appointed her U.S. Attorney General in 1993, a role she held until 2001 as the longest-serving in the 20th century. She passed away in Miami on November 7, 2016. No current role.