Denise O'Donnell
| Denise O'Donnell | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Director, Bureau of Justice Assistance | |
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In office June 6, 2011 – January 19, 2017 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Domingo S. Herraiz |
| Succeeded by | Tracey Trautman |
| New York State Commissioner of Criminal Justice Services | |
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In office 2007–2010 |
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| Appointed by | Eliot Spitzer |
| United States Attorney for the Western District of New York | |
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In office 1997–2010 |
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| Appointed by | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Patrick H. NeMoyer |
| Succeeded by | Michael A. Battle |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | John O'Donnell |
| Alma mater | University of Buffalo (MSW, J.D.) |
Denise O'Donnell is an attorney and Democratic politician from Buffalo, New York. She has served as director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), as New York State Commissioner of Criminal Justice Services, and Assistant Secretary to the Governor for Criminal Justice in the Cabinet of Gov. David Paterson. She previously held the roles in the Cabinet of former Gov. Eliot Spitzer.
She was a candidate in the 2006 Democratic primary for New York State Attorney General. O'Donnell attended high school at Mt. St. Joseph Academy, and then studied at Canisius College—both schools are located in Buffalo. Hers was the first graduating class from Canisius to include women. After graduating from college she worked for the New York City Department of Social Services. While doing so, she earned a master's degree in Social Work. After the birth of her two children, O'Donnell earned a Doctorate of Jurisprudence at the University at Buffalo Law School, graduating second in her class.
In 1985, she became an Assistant United States Attorney. In 1998, President Bill Clinton appointed her the US Attorney for the Western District of New York. While working for the US Attorney's office she worked on two particularly prominent cases. The first was the investigation into Oklahoma City bomber and Pendleton, NY native Timothy McVeigh. She was also the leader in the successful prosecution of anti-abortion extremist James Kopp for the murder of obstratician and abortion provider Barnett Slepian. She was pushed out of her position as US attorney by the Bush administration before her term had ended. Many speculate that this was because the Bush administration was displeased with her efforts in prosecuting Kopp.
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