Bill Schuette
Encyclopedia
William Duncan "Bill" Schuette (born October 13, 1953) is an American
Republican politician and the current Attorney General
of the U.S. state
of 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 1979.
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 for families 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 he served as the spokesperson for the group dedicated to keeping Medical Marijuana illegal in the State of Michigan.
After leaving the judiciary, Schuette was an attorney in the law firm of Warner, Norcross & Judd, one of Michigan's largest law firms, with offices throughout the lower peninsula.
On November 2, 2010, Schuette won election to become attorney general of Michigan.
Schuette has been a member of various boards and organizations throughout Michigan. Former positions include:
On September 2011, petition language to recall
Schuette was approved by Midland County authorities, allowing the circulating of recall petitions against him. Schuette has been active in trying to undo Michigan's voter approved Medical Marijuana law.
of the Honorable (abbreviated to Hon. or Hon'ble) for life. However, this was a title that he already received through his election as a member of Congress, a member of the Michigan Senate and a judge of the Michigan Court of Appeals.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Republican politician and the current Attorney General
Michigan Attorney General
The Attorney General of Michigan is the fourth-ranking official in the U.S. state of Michigan and one of four great offices of state. The officeholder is elected statewide in the November general election alongside the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, members of the Senate and...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Early life
Schuette was born in Midland, MichiganMidland, Michigan
Midland is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan in the Tri-Cities region of the state. It is the county seat of Midland County. The city's population was 41,863 as of the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Midland Micropolitan Statistical Area....
, where he graduated from Herbert Henry Dow High School
Herbert Henry Dow High School
Herbert Henry Dow High School is a public high school located in Midland, Michigan. The school, a part of Midland Public Schools, is a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and in 2008 was named one of the top 20 High Schools in Michigan in a study commissioned by US News & World...
in 1972. He attended Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and in 1976 graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in the Foreign Service. He also studied at the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and received a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1979. Schuette was admitted to the Michigan bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1979.
Political career
He 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
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Donald J. Albosta
Donald J. Albosta
Donald Joseph Albosta is a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.Albosta was born in Saginaw, Michigan and attended Saginaw and Chesaning public schools. He graduated from Chesaning Agricultural School, and attended Delta College in Bay City.He served in the United States Navy, was a farmer,...
for a seat in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Michigan's 10th congressional district
Michigan's 10th congressional district
Michigan's 10th congressional district is a United States congressional district in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, covering a region known as the Thumb. It consists of all of Huron, Lapeer, St...
. 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
Carl Levin
Carl Milton Levin is a Jewish-American United States Senator from Michigan, serving since 1979. He is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
for his seat in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. While in Congress, Schuette served on the House Budget Committee
United States House Committee on the Budget
The U.S. House Committee on the Budget, commonly known as the House Budget Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress...
, the House Agriculture Committee
United States House Committee on Agriculture
The U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, or Agriculture Committee is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. The House Committee on Agriculture has general jurisdiction over federal agriculture policy and oversight of some federal agencies, and it can recommend funding...
and the House Select Committee on Aging.
In January 1991, Schuette was named by then-Governor John Engler
John Engler
John Mathias Engler is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He served as the 46th Governor of Michigan from 1991 to 2003....
as the director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture
Michigan Department of Agriculture
-Divisions:*Animal Industry Division*Food and Dairy Division*Laboratory Division*Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division*Environmental Stewardship Division*Office of Agriculture Development*Operational Services and Central Licensing Division...
, 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 for families over a 12-year period.
In November 1994, he was elected to the Michigan Senate
Michigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
from the 35th District, where he served until 2003. In 2001, Schuette was selected by President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
to be his personal representative to Australian-American Friendship Week in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
In November 2002, he was elected a judge of the Michigan Court of Appeals. His term expired January 1, 2009.
In 2008 he served as the spokesperson for the group dedicated to keeping Medical Marijuana illegal in the State of Michigan.
After leaving the judiciary, Schuette was an attorney in the law firm of Warner, Norcross & Judd, one of Michigan's largest law firms, with offices throughout the lower peninsula.
On November 2, 2010, Schuette won election to become attorney general of Michigan.
Schuette has been a member of various boards and organizations throughout Michigan. Former positions include:
- Vice President of the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation
- Trustee of the Elsa U. Pardee Foundation
- Member of the Board of Trustees of Albion CollegeAlbion CollegeAlbion College is a private liberal arts college located in Albion, Michigan. Related to the United Methodist Church, it was founded in 1835 and was the first private college in Michigan to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. It has a student population of about 1500.The school's sports teams are...
and the Visiting Committee of the Gerald R. Ford Institute at Albion College - Board member of the Education Freedom Fund
On September 2011, petition language to recall
Recall election
A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended...
Schuette was approved by Midland County authorities, allowing the circulating of recall petitions against him. Schuette has been active in trying to undo Michigan's voter approved Medical Marijuana law.
Title
As attorney general, Schuette is entitled to the courtesy titleCourtesy title
A courtesy title is a form of address in systems of nobility used for children, former wives and other close relatives of a peer. These styles are used 'by courtesy' in the sense that the relatives do not themselves hold substantive titles...
of the Honorable (abbreviated to Hon. or Hon'ble) for life. However, this was a title that he already received through his election as a member of Congress, a member of the Michigan Senate and a judge of the Michigan Court of Appeals.