Rosemary Lehmberg

Rosemary Lehmberg is the District Attorney of Travis County, Texas. She has worked in the District Attorney's office since 1976.[1] During that time she headed many Divisions of the DA's office, establishing the Travis County Children's Advocacy Center, and was called "The Best Lawyer for Children's Issues" by the Austin Chronicle for her work.[2] In 2009, she became the first female District Attorney in Travis County, and has been cited by her supporters as heading one of the best DA offices in the United States.[3]

In 2013, she was arrested for driving while intoxicated. She was convicted and sentenced to 45 days in jail.[4] Video of her detainment and extremely inebriated and aggressive behavior was released to the public. Governor Rick Perry demanded that she resign her position or he would veto all funding to the Public Accountability Office which is under her authority. Lehmberg refused, and Governor Perry vetoed the office's funding. The governor is now under indictment for this action, and Lehmberg's term as DA will end in 2016.

Biography

Career

Born in Taylor, Texas, Lehmberg graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in Natural Sciences and got her law degree from Saint Mary's University School of Law. She ran a private practice until 1976 when she began working for the District Attorney's office in Travis County. She worked in the 167th District Court as a trial attorney, was promoted multiple times and headed specialized legal divisions. She became the Director of the Family Justice Division in 1988, and started the Travis County Children's Advocacy Center (since the Center for Child Protection). She was named the Best Lawyer for Children's Issues by the Austin Chronicle. She was the First Assistant District Attorney from 1997 to 2009, and became the first female District Attorney in Travis County in 2009.[2] In 2010, Lehmberg stated that the Hate Crimes Task Force she had started would be expanded due to the beating of two Austin gay men that had gone unsolved.[5] In 2011, Lehmberg denied that the sentencing of former House Representative Tom DeLay to three years in prison was a form of political payback by her office.[6]

Arrest

In April 2013, motorists saw Lehmberg driving in a bike lane for over a mile on southbound FM 620, and at one point veering into oncoming traffic on Comanche trail.[1][7] When pulled over at an Austin church parking lot, police discovered vodka on her passenger side seat.[1] Her blood alcohol level was .239, three times the legal limit.[1] Lehmberg was taken into custody and while incarcerated officials claimed she was "uncooperative" and "aggressive" and had to be restrained with leg irons, handcuffs, and a spit mask.[1] However, officers have stated they did not observe any spitting, and one jailer stated it was used to protect her identity.[8][9] Video of her detainment and aggressive behavior was released to the public by an Austin radio station.[10]

DA Lehmberg was charged with a DWI, to which she pled guilty and was sentenced to 45 days in jail and a $4,000 fine.[1][11] Her driver's license was suspended for 180 days and she waived her right to appeal.[1] Lehmberg wrote a letter from jail to residents of Travis County apologizing for her behavior, vowing to get professional help and not seek a third term in 2016.[12] Lehmberg had a criminal complaint leveled against her by Rick Reed, former prosecutor, in April 2013 and another by Kerry O'Brien, an Austin lawyer, in June 2013, alleging that her behavior in police custody warranted her removal.[13][14] Both suits were subsequently dismissed.[13][14] A grand jury reviewed video tape of her arrest and her purchases related to alcohol since 2012, and found over $3,000 spent on 72 bottles of vodka, and prosecutors argued that her drinking was not a one time mistake but a pattern and thus warranted her removal.[15] Over 170 lawyers wrote in support of Lehmberg, arguing she would likely retire in 2016, calling her one of the best District Attorneys in the country and having an "extraordinary career", and also referencing her many years of work defending children's rights.[3] The grand jury eventually concluded her actions while in custody did not constitute official misconduct. Lehmberg was thereafter released having served only half her sentence for good behavior.[15]

Post-incarceration events

Texas Governor Rick Perry demanded Lehmberg step down from her position or he would veto $7.5 million of State funding for the Public Corruption office which Lehmberg worked for.[11] Meetings were held between Travis County officials and Governor Perry's representatives in order to reach an agreement to keep the funding going.[16] Perry's representatives indicated that if Lehmberg stepped down, funding would be restored and her top lieutenant would be allowed to succeed her. Later the offer was changed, so that she would be allowed to work at the DA in another capacity.[16][17] When Lehmberg refused, Perry vetoed the office's funding, stating ""The person charged with ultimate responsibility of that unit has lost the public's confidence".[18] Travis County helped to pay for the office's funding, but several staff had to be fired.[11]

As a result of the veto, an outside political group called Texans for Public Justice filed an ethics complaint against Governor Perry, claiming the veto was an illegal attempt to coerce a public official to resign.[18] Lehmberg was not involved in reviewing the ethics complaint and a special prosecutor was appointed to review the claims instead. On August 15, 2014, a grand jury indicted Perry on two counts.[15][19] This has started an ongoing legal proceeding against Governor Perry that he has vowed to fight. Perry has also stated he would fire Lehmberg again for her actions.[18] Attorney Kerry O'Brien filed a complaint with the Texas Ethics Commission on August 8 alleging that during Lehmberg's 2013 legal battles she paid her attorney using improper and unreported campaign contributions.[14]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 O'Rourke, Ciara (2014-04-19). "As Lehmberg heads to jail, new details about booking emerge". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Meet the DA: Rosemary Lehmberg, Travis County, Texas". Travis County State Government. 2013-01-22. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 O'Rourke, Ciara (2013-04-25). "Lawyers voice support for Lehmberg". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
  4. ↑ O'Rourke, Ciara (2013-04-19). "As Lehmberg heads to jail, new details about booking emerge". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  5. ↑ Waugh, Anna (2012-04-26). "Lesbian Travis County DA who secured conviction in DeLay case eyes 2nd term". Dallas Voice. Retrieved 2014-08-19.
  6. ↑ McKinley Jr., James (01-10-2011). "DeLay Sentenced to 3 Years in Conspiracy and Money-Laundering Case". New York Times. Retrieved 2014-08-19. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ↑ Plohetski, Tony (2013-04-13). "Travis County DA Rosemary Lehmberg says she doesn’t plan to resign". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
  8. ↑ O'Rourke, Ciara (2013-04-19). "Jail report says DA was handcuffed and ‘leg-ironed’". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 2014-08-21.
  9. ↑ Zennie, Michael (2014-04-18). "Drunk, belligerent, threatening officers and kicking the door to her cell: The ugly video of Texas district attorney's DWI arrest that's behind Governor Rick Perry's indictment". Daily Mail. Retrieved 2014-08-21.
  10. ↑ Bennett, Scott (2014-08-17). "Rosemary Lehmberg’s video from the Travis County Jail has gone viral since Friday…". KOKE FM Radio Station. Retrieved 2014-08-20.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Fernandez, Manny (2014-08-15). "Gov. Rick Perry of Texas Is Indicted on Charge of Abuse of Power". New York Times. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
  12. ↑ Smith, Jordan (05-03-2013). "What Happens Next?". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2014-08-18. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Smith, Jordan (06-03-2013). "More Trouble for Rosemary Lehmberg". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2014-08-18. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Morris, Angela (2014-08-12). "Solo Who Sued to Remove D.A. Rosemary Lehmberg Files Complaint With Texas Ethics Commission". Texas Lawyer. Retrieved 2014-08-19.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 "Perry responds to indictment, calls it a political 'farce,' vows to defend himself". Fox News. 2014-08-16. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Fikac, Peggy (2014-08-17). "Perry case built with staffers, lawmakers". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
  17. ↑ Hicks, Nolan (2014-04-24). "Perry aides offered Lehmberg a job for resignation". My San Antonio. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Koppel, Nathan (2014-08-15). "Texas Gov. Perry Indicted After Veto of Funding". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
  19. ↑ Ramsey, Ross (2014-08-15). "For Rick Perry, it’s not the crime, it’s the politics". Washington Post. Retrieved 2014-08-18.

External links