Dennis Vacco
Encyclopedia
Dennis C. Vacco is an American lawyer and politician. He graduated a B.A. from Colgate University
in 1974, a J.D.
from University at Buffalo Law School
in 1978, and was admitted to the bar in 1979.
He was an Assistant District Attorney of Erie County from 1978 to 1988, and US Attorney for the Western District of New York
from 1988 until the beginning of the Clinton administration
in 1993. He was New York State Attorney General
from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 1998. In 1994 he defeated Karen Burstein
, the Democratic nominee. Vacco brought national attention through a series of prosecutions brought against ISP
s, including Dreamscape Online
for distributing child pornography
. The principal defendant, Buffnet, eventually pled guilty to a charge of fourth degree facilitation of a felony
and was fined $5,000.
Vacco played a prominent role in Mayor Rudy Giuliani
's attempt to require Time Warner Cable
to carry the Fox News Channel
. An attempt by Vacco to bring an anti-trust violation charge against Time-Warner failed. In 1998, Vacco was defeated in his bid for re-election by future Governor Eliot Spitzer
. During his tenure as Attorney General, Vacco also argued the landmark assisted suicide
case Vacco v. Quill
before the United States Supreme Court. He successfully defended the state's ban on the practice, winning the case by a 9–0 vote. After leaving the Attorney General's office Vacco worked as Vice-President for New York Operations of Waste Management, Inc.
Colgate University
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52...
in 1974, 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 University at Buffalo Law School
University at Buffalo Law School
The University at Buffalo Law School, the State University of New York is a graduate professional school at the University at Buffalo. It is part of the State University of New York system and is the SUNY system's only law school. U.S...
in 1978, and was admitted to the bar in 1979.
He was an Assistant District Attorney of Erie County from 1978 to 1988, and US Attorney for the Western District of New York
US Attorney for the Western District of New York
The United States Attorney for the Western District of New York is the chief federal law enforcement officer in seventeen New York counties: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming, and...
from 1988 until the beginning of the Clinton administration
Presidency of Bill Clinton
The United States Presidency of Bill Clinton, also known as the Clinton Administration, was the executive branch of the federal government of the United States from January 20, 1993 to January 20, 2001. Clinton was the first Democratic president since Franklin D. Roosevelt to win a second full term...
in 1993. He was New York State Attorney General
New York State Attorney General
The New York State Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of New York. The office has been in existence in some form since 1626, under the Dutch colonial government of New York.The current Attorney General is Eric Schneiderman...
from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 1998. In 1994 he defeated Karen Burstein
Karen Burstein
Karen Burstein is a politician and former judge from New York. She was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for New York State Attorney General in 1994.-Biography:...
, the Democratic nominee. Vacco brought national attention through a series of prosecutions brought against ISP
Internet service provider
An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...
s, including Dreamscape Online
Dreamscape Online
Dreamscape Online, LLC. is an ISP operating out of upstate New York state. It was founded in the mid-1990s in the form of the Dreamscape BBS by Scott Brennan...
for distributing child pornography
Child pornography
Child pornography refers to images or films and, in some cases, writings depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child...
. The principal defendant, Buffnet, eventually pled guilty to a charge of fourth degree facilitation of a felony
Felony
A felony is a serious crime in the common law countries. The term originates from English common law where felonies were originally crimes which involved the confiscation of a convicted person's land and goods; other crimes were called misdemeanors...
and was fined $5,000.
Vacco played a prominent role in Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani KBE is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
's attempt to require Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable is an American cable television company that operates in 28 states and has 31 operating divisions...
to carry the Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel , often called Fox News, is a cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation...
. An attempt by Vacco to bring an anti-trust violation charge against Time-Warner failed. In 1998, Vacco was defeated in his bid for re-election by future Governor Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Laurence Spitzer is an American lawyer, former Democratic Party politician, and political commentator. He was the co-host of In the Arena, a talk-show and punditry forum broadcast on CNN until CNN cancelled his show in July of 2011...
. During his tenure as Attorney General, Vacco also argued the landmark assisted suicide
Assisted suicide
Assisted suicide is the common term for actions by which an individual helps another person voluntarily bring about his or her own death. "Assistance" may mean providing one with the means to end one's own life, but may extend to other actions. It differs to euthanasia where another person ends...
case Vacco v. Quill
Vacco v. Quill
Vacco v. Quill, 521 U.S. 793 , is a landmark decision of the Supreme Court of the United States regarding the right to die. It ruled that a New York ban on physician-assisted suicide was constitutional, and preventing doctors from assisting their patients, even those terminally ill and/or in great...
before the United States Supreme Court. He successfully defended the state's ban on the practice, winning the case by a 9–0 vote. After leaving the Attorney General's office Vacco worked as Vice-President for New York Operations of Waste Management, Inc.
Electoral history
|-- Vacco also ran on the Conservative Party of New YorkConservative Party of New YorkThe Conservative Party of New York State is an American political party active in the state of New York. It is not part of any nationwide party, nor is it affiliated with the American Conservative Party, which it predates by over 40 years....
ticket.