Steve Cooley
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Stephen Lawrence ("Steve") Cooley (born May 1, 1947 in Los Angeles, California) is a veteran prosecutor who was elected as Los Angeles County's 40th[1] District Attorney on November 7, 2000. He is the first Republican elected DA in Los Angeles County since the 1930s. He succeeded Democrat Gil Garcetti. He was sworn in for his second term on December 6, 2004. He is currently seeking a third term. He is also a former reserve Los Angeles Police officer.
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[edit] Background
The second of five children, Steve Cooley was born at St. Vincent's Hospital (now St. Vincent's Medical Center) in Los Angeles, California. His father was an FBI agent and his mother a homemaker. Cooley attended schools in the Silver Lake area.
At California State University, Los Angeles, Cooley served two terms as Student Body President and was selected for membership in Phi Kappa Phi Academic Honor Society. He was also a member of Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity. In 1970, He was commencement speaker for his graduating class. Cooley later entered USC Gould School of Law. He graduated in 1973, receiving the Am Jur Award for Criminal Law. That same year he joined the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
[edit] Life as District Attorney
In a campaign featuring a record-breaking 15 debates, Cooley captured nearly two-thirds of the vote. He was the first trial-tested attorney to be elected District Attorney in almost 30 years. Once in office, Cooley instituted a reorganization of the District Attorney's Office including creation of the Justice System Integrity Division, Forensic Science Section and Victim Impact Program. Cooley changed the office's policy on California's Three Strikes Law, with the stated purpose to assure proportionality in sentencing and even-handed application countywide. Cooley served over seven years as a highly commended police officer with LAPD and 27 years as prosecutor, At his 2000 swearing-in ceremony, he charged his over 1000 prosecutors – and more than 300 District Attorney investigators and 600 clerical, technical and support staff – “Show no fear in pursuing the criminal element, but also be fearless in the pursuit of justice.”
[edit] Reelection
In June of 2008 he is seeking re-election to an unprecedented third term. Cooley has two challengers, Independent Steve Ipsen, President of the LA County Prosecutors Union, and the only official Democratic candidate Albert Robles, an attorney and Professor. The LA Times editorial desk has endorsed Cooley for re-election, though reluctantly. Competitor Steve Ipsen, President of the Los Angeles Deputy District Attorneys Association for 5 terms, claims that Cooley's tenure has been unpopular for the 1,000 prosecutors in his office.[2]
The LA Times editorial desk wrote in April 28, 2008 of Cooley, "It is noteworthy that he criticized predecessor Gil Garcetti in 2000 for seeking a third term and promised that he would serve only two. This year, he is seeking his third."[2]
[edit] Controversies
[edit] Robert Blake
Steve Cooley's office was unsuccessful in the prosecution of Robert Blake for the murder of his wife Bonnie Lee Bakley. When interviewed about Robert Blake's acquittal, Steve Cooley publicly called members of the jury who acquitted Blake "incredibly stupid" and refused to apologize for the statement.[3]
[edit] Battered Women
According to The Los Angeles Times, advocates for battered women have criticized Cooley’s handling of Deborah Peagler’s case and others like it. In eight out of eight cases, he has opposed the use of a California law that allows battered women in prison to be given a new hearing if evidence of domestic violence was omitted during the original proceedings. Cooley had initially supported Peagler's release from prison, but then withdrew his offer to reduce the battered woman's prison sentence.[4] In 2008, a California Superior Court Judge removed Cooley's entire office from Peagler's case due to allegations of misconduct and conflicts of interest. [5]
[edit] Personal
He and his wife Jana have lived in Toluca Lake, California for over 30 years. They have a son, Michael, and a daughter, Shannon.
[edit] References
- ^ LACDA History.
- ^ a b LA Times Editorial Department. "For District Attorney and Board of Supervisors The Times Reluctantly Endorses", Los Angeles Times, April 28, 2008.
- ^ "No Apology For Robert Blake Jury" CBS News
- ^ The Los Angeles Times (12/07/2007) "Lawsuit says Cooley reneged on promise; D.A. vowed to aid her bid for freedom, says the killer of a pimp."
- ^ [http://www.latimes.com/news/local/crime/la-me-cooley26apr26,0,1865063.story The Los Angeles Times (4/26/08)"D.A. barred from abused woman's appeal of 1982 murder case L.A. judge gives a her a key victory in her ongoing battle for freedom."]
[edit] External links
- Los Angeles County District Attorney web page biography
- Stephen L. Cooley litigation record at Thomson Legal Records
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