Terence Hallinan
Encyclopedia
Terence Hallinan is an American
attorney
and politician
from San Francisco, California
. He is the second of six sons born to leftist
attorney Vincent Hallinan
and his wife Vivian.
Hallinan was educated at the London School of Economics
, University of California, Berkeley
, and University of California, Hastings College of the Law
. He successfully contested the State Bar
's negative evaluation of his character, based on his engagement in civil disobedience in opposing racist discriminatory employment practices by certain San Francisco businesses in the 1960s, before the Supreme Court of California
.
As an attorney, he successfully argued to have the murder convictions of serial-killer Juan Corona
overturned on appeal, and represented Corona in his retrial which resulted in 25 convictions for murder and a life sentence.
He served on the San Francisco City and County Board of Supervisors, losing his first bid for that office to Harvey Milk
in 1977, and later was the district attorney
of San Francisco for two terms. While serving as DA, he became a notable opponent of capital punishment
. He also was a strong advocate on behalf of decriminalizing prostitution. In his tenure he supported medical marijuana and is now an advisor of NORML. He was defeated for reelection as District Attorney by Kamala Harris
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He is the second of six sons born to leftist
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
attorney Vincent Hallinan
Vincent Hallinan
Vincent Hallinan was an American lawyer and a candidate for President of the United States for the Progressive Party in the 1952 election.-Early life and education:...
and his wife Vivian.
Hallinan was educated at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, and University of California, Hastings College of the Law
University of California, Hastings College of the Law
University of California, Hastings College of the Law is a public law school in San Francisco, California, located in the Civic Center neighborhood....
. He successfully contested the State Bar
State Bar of California
The State Bar of California is California's official bar association. It is responsible for managing the admission of lawyers to the practice of law, investigating complaints of professional misconduct, and prescribing appropriate discipline...
's negative evaluation of his character, based on his engagement in civil disobedience in opposing racist discriminatory employment practices by certain San Francisco businesses in the 1960s, before the Supreme Court of California
Supreme Court of California
The Supreme Court of California is the highest state court in California. It is headquartered in San Francisco and regularly holds sessions in Los Angeles and Sacramento. Its decisions are binding on all other California state courts.-Composition:...
.
As an attorney, he successfully argued to have the murder convictions of serial-killer Juan Corona
Juan Corona
Juan Vallejo Corona is a Mexican-born serial killer in the United States.He was convicted of the 1971 murders of 25 itinerant laborers; men who had been found buried in shallow graves in the orchards of fruit ranches in Sutter County, California, along the Feather River north of Yuba City, where...
overturned on appeal, and represented Corona in his retrial which resulted in 25 convictions for murder and a life sentence.
He served on the San Francisco City and County Board of Supervisors, losing his first bid for that office to Harvey Milk
Harvey Milk
Harvey Bernard Milk was an American politician who became the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors...
in 1977, and later was the district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
of San Francisco for two terms. While serving as DA, he became a notable opponent of capital punishment
Capital punishment in the United States
Capital punishment in the United States, in practice, applies only for aggravated murder and more rarely for felony murder. Capital punishment was a penalty at common law, for many felonies, and was enforced in all of the American colonies prior to the Declaration of Independence...
. He also was a strong advocate on behalf of decriminalizing prostitution. In his tenure he supported medical marijuana and is now an advisor of NORML. He was defeated for reelection as District Attorney by Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris
Kamala Devi Harris is an American attorney. She is the 32nd and current Attorney General of California following the 2010 California state elections. Harris has worked as an author and a politician and has served as District Attorney of San Francisco since 2004...
.
External links
- Zamora, Jim Herron. HALLINAN: A man at odds with authority. San Francisco Chronicle. Published Wednesday, December 10, 2003. Accessed May 29, 2006.