Doug Gansler
Encyclopedia
Douglas F. "Doug" Gansler (born 1962) is a Maryland
politician and Attorney General of Maryland
. Gansler won the Democratic nomination in the primary election on September 12, 2006, and beat Republican Scott Rolle
in the general election on November 7, 2006. He was re-elected unopposed in the 2010 election.
Gansler attended Sidwell Friends School
, a Quaker school in Washington, D.C. in grades 6-12. From Sidwell Friends, Gansler went on to Yale University
, where he played lacrosse with distinction, nurtured an interest in elective politics and graduated cum laude.
Gansler received his law degree
from the University of Virginia School of Law
.
Gansler served as the State's Attorney
for Montgomery County, Maryland
from January 1999 until January 2, 2007. While State's Attorney, he prosecuted several high-profile cases including the Beltway snipers: John Muhammad
and Lee Boyd Malvo
. During this time he was sanctioned by the Maryland Court of Appeals for inappropriately speaking to the media about a high-profile case. He was the first elected State's Attorney to be sanctioned by the court.
Before working as a State's Attorney, Gansler was an assistant United States Attorney
from 1992 to 1998, and a member of the law firms of Coburn & Schertler and Howrey & Simon.
Doug Gansler's father is Jacques Gansler, Professor of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, College Park
and former Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics
.
.
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
politician and Attorney General of Maryland
Attorney General of Maryland
The Attorney General of Maryland is the chief legal officer of the State of Maryland in the United States and is elected by the people every four years with no term limits...
. Gansler won the Democratic nomination in the primary election on September 12, 2006, and beat Republican Scott Rolle
Scott Rolle
Scott L. Rolle was the State's Attorney for Frederick County, Maryland from 1995 to 2007.Scott L. Rolle is an American actor best known for his role as a co-star in the hit television series Brad Meltzer's DECODED. The series is currently in regular rotation on the History Channel. Production on...
in the general election on November 7, 2006. He was re-elected unopposed in the 2010 election.
Background
Gansler spent some of his early years in New Jersey before moving to the Washington area in the mid-1970s.Gansler attended Sidwell Friends School
Sidwell Friends School
Sidwell Friends School is a Quaker private school located in Bethesda, Maryland and Washington, D.C., offering pre-kindergarten through secondary school classes. Founded in 1883 by Thomas Sidwell, its motto is "Eluceat omnibus lux" , alluding to the Quaker concept of inner light...
, a Quaker school in Washington, D.C. in grades 6-12. From Sidwell Friends, Gansler went on to Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, where he played lacrosse with distinction, nurtured an interest in elective politics and graduated cum laude.
Gansler received his law degree
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 Virginia School of Law
University of Virginia School of Law
The University of Virginia School of Law was founded in Charlottesville in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as one of the original subjects taught at his "academical village," the University of Virginia. The law school maintains an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students in its initial degree program...
.
Gansler served as the State's Attorney
State's Attorney
In the United States, the State's Attorney is, most commonly, an elected official who represents the State in criminal prosecutions and is often the chief law enforcement officer of their respective county, circuit...
for Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
from January 1999 until January 2, 2007. While State's Attorney, he prosecuted several high-profile cases including the Beltway snipers: John Muhammad
John Allen Muhammad
John Allen Muhammad was a spree killer from the United States. He, along with his younger partner, Lee Boyd Malvo, carried out the 2002 Beltway sniper attacks, killing at least 10 people. Muhammad and Malvo were arrested in connection with the attacks on October 24, 2002, following tips from alert...
and Lee Boyd Malvo
Lee Boyd Malvo
Lee Boyd Malvo , is a spree killer convicted, along with John Allen Muhammad, of murders in connection with the Beltway sniper attacks, which took place in the Washington Metropolitan Area over a three-week period in October 2002...
. During this time he was sanctioned by the Maryland Court of Appeals for inappropriately speaking to the media about a high-profile case. He was the first elected State's Attorney to be sanctioned by the court.
Before working as a State's Attorney, Gansler was an assistant United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
from 1992 to 1998, and a member of the law firms of Coburn & Schertler and Howrey & Simon.
Doug Gansler's father is Jacques Gansler, Professor of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
and former Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics
Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics
The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics - USD - is a senior official in the Office of the Secretary of Defense within the Department of Defense of the United States of America...
.
Attorney general
Doug Gansler took the oath of office as Attorney General on January 2, 2007. Since being sworn in, Gansler has made prosecution of environmental crimes a priority. In October 2009, Gansler successfully argued a case before the United States Supreme Court — arguing that a suspect's invocation of Miranda rights should have certain limits. As Attorney General, he serves on the Maryland State Commission on Criminal Sentencing PolicyMaryland State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy
Maryland State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy, , is an agency within the state government of Maryland, that sets guidelines which are used by Maryland circuit court judges in sentencing persons convicted of crimes in the state.-Background:...
.