Derek Schmidt
Encyclopedia
Derek Schmidt is a the 44th and current Attorney General of Kansas
. Schmidt previously served as member of the Kansas Senate
, representing the 15th district, and as Senate Majority Leader
. Before serving in the legislature, he was Special Counsel to Governor Bill Graves
.
Schmidt defeated former attorney general, Democrat
Stephen Six
in the November 2010 elections. Schmidt resigned his Senate seat upon taking office as attorney general.
. Schmidt is the only child of Barbara Schmidt and Bill Schmidt. He attended the University of Kansas
where he received a BA
in Journalism
. Schmidt went overseas to the United Kingdom
where at the University of Leicester
he obtained his Masters in International Politics. He went on to attend Georgetown University Law Center
(GULC) where Schmidt received his Juris Doctor
. While attending classes at GULC, Schmidt served as an assistant first to former United States Senator Nancy Kassebaum, and then to Senator Chuck Hagel
. Following his graduation he served in several public official roles including Assistant Attorney General of Kansas, and as Special Counsel to the Governor of Kansas.
Legislation sponsored or co-sponsored by Schmidt included::
on constitutional grounds in the case of Florida et al v. United States Department of Health and Human Services
.
Kansas Attorney General
The Attorney General of Kansas is a statewide elected official responsible for providing legal services to the state government of Kansas.-Divisions:* Criminal Justice* Civil Litigation* Consumer Protection* Concealed Carry...
. Schmidt previously served as member of the Kansas Senate
Kansas Senate
The Kansas Senate is the upper house of the Kansas Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. State of Kansas. It is composed of 40 Senators representing an equal amount of districts, each with a population of at least 60,000 inhabitants. Members of the Senate are elected to a four year term....
, representing the 15th district, and as Senate Majority Leader
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
. Before serving in the legislature, he was Special Counsel to Governor Bill Graves
Bill Graves
William Preston "Bill" Graves , was the 43rd Governor of Kansas from 1995 until 2003.Graves was born in Salina, Kansas in 1953 to parents who owned a trucking firm...
.
Schmidt defeated former attorney general, 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...
Stephen Six
Stephen Six
Stephen N. Six is an American attorney and former judge from Kansas who served as Kansas' 43rd Attorney General. He was nominated to serve as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit on March 9, 2011...
in the November 2010 elections. Schmidt resigned his Senate seat upon taking office as attorney general.
Early life and career
Derek Larkin Schmidt was born on January 23, 1968 in Independence, KansasKansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. Schmidt is the only child of Barbara Schmidt and Bill Schmidt. He attended the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
where he received a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
. Schmidt went overseas to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
where at the University of Leicester
University of Leicester
The University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
he obtained his Masters in International Politics. He went on to attend Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
(GULC) where Schmidt received his Juris Doctor
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...
. While attending classes at GULC, Schmidt served as an assistant first to former United States Senator Nancy Kassebaum, and then to Senator Chuck Hagel
Chuck Hagel
Charles Timothy "Chuck" Hagel is a former United States Senator from Nebraska. A member of the Republican Party, he was first elected in 1996 and was reelected in 2002...
. Following his graduation he served in several public official roles including Assistant Attorney General of Kansas, and as Special Counsel to the Governor of Kansas.
Legislative career
During his time in the Senate, Schmidt supported:- Increased state funding for education
- Increased eligibility of children for health care
- Nuclear-powered energy
- Tougher punishments for repeat felons
- Legislative spending restraint
Legislation sponsored or co-sponsored by Schmidt included::
- Senate Bill 584 to consolidate the food inspections agencies,
- Senate Bill 531 to increase K-12 educational funding,
- House Sub. for SB 81 to increase child health care,
- Senate Bill 586 to create financial incentives for nuclear power plant expansion,
- House Bill 2707 to create tougher punishments for three-time thieves,
- Senate Sub. for HB 2006 to create incentives for the aviation industry
Major donors
The top contributors to Schmidt's 2008 Senate campaign, according to the National Institute on Money in State Politics: Kansas Association of Realtors $2,000, Kansas Contractor's Association $1,500, Watco Industroes $1,500, Koch Industries $1,500, and Kansas Chamber of Commerce and Industry $1,500.As Attorney General
One of Schmidt's first acts attorney general for Kansas was to join the states that oppose the Patient Protection and Affordable Care ActPatient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
on constitutional grounds in the case of Florida et al v. United States Department of Health and Human Services
Florida et al v. United States Department of Health and Human Services
Florida et al v. United States Department of Health and Human Services is a lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida by the State of Florida against the United States Department of Health and Human Services seeking to nullify the Patient Protection and...
.
External links
- Official website of Attorney General Derek Schmidt
- Project Vote Smart profile
- Follow the Money campaign contributions
- Sen. Schmidt's website
- Attorney General Campaign website