Texas GOP Featured Voice: Greg Abbott

Attorney General Greg Abbott was reelected as the 50th Attorney General of Texas on November 7, 2006. Prior to his election as attorney general, Greg Abbott served as a Justice on the Texas Supreme Court and as a State District Judge in Harris County.

As the state's chief law enforcement official, Attorney General Abbott has made protecting families and values the focus of his administration. Shortly after taking office, Attorney General Abbott established a Cyber Crimes Unit to arrest criminals who use the Internet to prey upon children; a Fugitive Unit to arrest convicted sex offenders who violate their parole; and an expanded Medicaid Fraud Control Unit to crack down on elder abuse and waste of taxpayer dollars. Since taking office, General Abbott has collected more than $15 billion in child support for Texas children.

In his capacity as the state's lawyer, Attorney General Abbott oversees nearly 700 attorneys who represent the State of Texas. General Abbott has personally appeared in courtrooms around the state and has obtained indictments against criminals charged with offenses ranging from attempted aggravated assault of a child to capital murder. In March 2005, General Abbott personally appeared before the United States Supreme Court, where he successfully defended the constitutionality of the Ten Commandments display that adorns the Texas Capitol grounds. By convincing the nation's highest court that the State's monument was constitutional, General Abbott ensured that Texas will continue displaying the Ten Commandments for years to come.

General Abbott's career in public service began in Houston, where he served as a highly rated state trial judge in the 129th District Court for three years. In 1995, then-Governor George W. Bush appointed General Abbott to the Texas Supreme Court, where he served with distinction. Twice re-elected to the Texas Supreme Court, General Abbott earned numerous awards, including "Jurist of the Year" from the Texas Review of Law & Politics; "Trial Judge of the Year" from the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists; and "Appellate Judge of the Year" from the Texas Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

An active participant in his community, General Abbott has held leadership positions in numerous organizations, including the Central Texas Chapter of Goodwill Industries, the Governor's Committee to Promote Adoption, Justice for All, and the Texas Institute for Rehabilitation and Research Foundation. In 2004, General Abbott served as Honorary State Chairman of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Texas.

Greg Abbott and 12 other attorneys general are legally challenging the Nebraska Compromise on the Senate version of the health care reform bill.

A native Texan, Attorney General Abbott was born in Wichita Falls and raised in Duncanville. After graduating from the University of Texas with a B.B.A. in Finance, he received his law degree from Vanderbilt University. Shortly after graduating from law school, he was partially paralyzed by a falling tree while jogging. He and his wife, Cecilia, a former school teacher and principal, have been married for 28 years. They live in Austin with their daughter, Audrey.

You can follow Greg Abbott on Twitter.

Source: Office of the Attorney General