Dustin Blake McDaniel (born April 29, 1972) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 55th Arkansas attorney general. He is a partner at the Little Rock law firm of McDaniel, Richardson & amp; Calhoun, PLLC. McDaniel's practice focuses on administrative law, regulatory affairs, government relations, business litigation, and criminal law. McDaniel represents individuals and businesses ranging from healthcare to technology, as well as regulated industries such as medical tobacco and marijuana. McDaniel is licensed in the District of Columbia and enjoys the practice of national law representing individuals and corporations that interact with State Attorney General, Governors, and the Arkansas state government. From 2005-2007, McDaniel serves on the Arkansas Council of Representatives, serving on the Board of Health, Welfare, and Public Employment Committees and as joint Chair of the Joint Select Committee on Health Insurance and Prescription Drugs.
Video Dustin McDaniel
Early life and education
Dustin McDaniel was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He is the eldest son of Bobby McDaniel and Melody Gammon Konnerth. McDaniel has one sibling, Brett Anthony McDaniel, a lawyer in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Her father, Bobby, graduated from Arkansas University Law School after Dustin was born. Mike Beebe, 45th Arkansas Governor, is a fellow law student and family friend.
McDaniel attended Jonesboro Public Schools, graduating from Jonesboro High School in 1990. He attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where he was a student at Walton College of Business. He is a member of the brotherhood of Xi Bab Kappa Sigma and President of the Interfraternity Council. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration in 1994.
In 1996, McDaniel enrolled at the University of Arkansas at William H. Bowen Law School in Little Rock. During his time at Bowen, he was elected Honorary Attorney Council and served as Assistant Editor of Articles for UALR Legal Review. After two and a half years, he graduated with Cum Laude with Juris Doctor in January 1999.
Maps Dustin McDaniel
Careers
Jonesboro Police Department
After college, McDaniel joined the Jonesboro Police Department (JPD) in Jonesboro, Arkansas. She attended Arkansas Law Enforcement Training College (ALETA) in Camden, Arkansas. He is a graduate of ALETA Class 94-D. He served as a full-time patrol officer with JPD from 1994-1996. From 1996-2000, he served as a part-time uniformed officer while studying in law school. From 2000-present, McDaniel has been commissioned in the Training Division of the Department as a member of Part II of the force.
In 1998, mass school shooting in Jonesboro, Arkansas at Westside Middle School killed 4 students and 1 teacher and injured 10 other students.
McDaniel saw the news on CNN and went to Jonesboro to report on duty and go to the scene. He often talks about it in his public life. McDaniel's father, Bobby McDaniel, filed a lawsuit on behalf of the relatives of the dead against the gunners and firearms manufacturers used. The lawsuit was filed before Dustin McDaniel had a legal license, but even so it was used by former Senator Gunner DeLay in 2006 as evidence of McDaniel's lack of confidence in the Second Amendment Issue. McDaniel fought back with his law enforcement background and that he was a hunter-hunter. In 2017, the families were awarded a $ 150 million uncollectible verdict against Andrew Golden and Mitchell Johnson.
Personal Practice
After law school, McDaniel joins his father's law firm, McDaniel & amp; Wells, P.A. (now McDaniel Law Firm) in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He stays at McDaniel & amp; Wells from 1999-2007.
McDaniel received several awards during his private practice career, including the Golden Gavel Award from the Arkansas Bar Association to serve as Chairman of the Consumer Law Guidelines Committee in 2000 and the Distinguished Service Award from the Arkansas Bar Association to oversee the translation of the Consumer Law Guidelines into Spain in 2001 He also received the UALR William H. Bowen School of Law Alumnus Award in 2002. In 2002, he was appointed to the Arkansas Association Law School Committee and accepted into the Million Dollar Advocate Forum. In 2003, McDaniel was the only lawyer in Arkansas serving the Legislation committee of the Arkansas Bar Association and the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association.
McDaniel served as Legal Counsel for Craighead County Democratic Central Committee and as a member of the Arkansas Democratic Party Committee from 2002-2005.
Under Arkansas law, the Attorney General is prohibited from engaging in private law practice. McDaniel leaves McDaniel & amp; Wells in January 2007 and formed the McDaniel, Richardson & amp; Calhoun in 2015 after he was restricted.
Arkansas House of Representatives
On July 1, 2003, McDaniel announced his candidacy for the 75th Arkansas House of Representative District. The 75th district covers the Jonesboro metropolitan area. Its main opponents are veterans and school administrators Paul House. After securing the primary Democrat, McDaniel went on to face Bille Sue Hoggard (R) in the general election. McDaniel won, receiving 53% of the vote. In the same election, President George W. Bush (R) defeated Senator John Kerry (D) 53% to 46% in Arkansas House District 75 (Craighead County).
May 18, 2004 Democratic Main Outcome
2 November 2004 Election Result
McDaniel was sworn into the 85th Arkansas General Assembly in January 2005. During his tenure, he wrote and passed complicated and controversial laws, including bills related to Tax Improvement Financing (TIF) and creating a prescription drug program for work, the Arkansans uninsured so-called "Arkansas Rx," which was never fully implemented.
During his tenure, McDaniel was the only new student on the Top Ten Legislator list by Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. He is also appointed as chair of the Joint Select Committee on Health Insurance and Prescription Drugs.
55 Attorney General Arkansas
On June 29, 2005, McDaniel announced his candidacy for the Attorney General. He faces two main opponents, Paul Suskie and Robert Leo Herzfeld. During the campaign, 16 former Bar Association President Arkansas supported McDaniel, as well as former Treasurer of State and 2002 Democratic Candidate for Governor Jimmie Lou Fisher, who served as head of McDaniel's campaign.
Primer Democratis, 2006
Democratic Main Escapes, 2006
In the election, McDaniel faces two opponents, Republican candidate, former State Senator Gunner DeLay and Green Party candidate, Rebekah Kennedy. McDaniel won his bid for the Attorney General. When McDaniel was inaugurated at the age of 34, he became the youngest Junior Attorney in the country.
November 7, 2006 Results of General Election
First
TermsDuring his first tenure as Attorney General, McDaniel expanded the litigation of consumer protection, prosecution of Medicaid fraud and established Arkansas General Prosecutor's Office as a law enforcement agency. He also instigated the "Be Street Smart" Program to raise consumer awareness of fraud and cyber crime.
McDaniel reorganized the Attorney General's Department to better handle the increased burden of cases of habeas corpus and the 1983 civil rights cases brought on or on behalf of death row convicts.
In 2007, McDaniel helped complete the Lake View School District No. 25 v. Huckabee, fifteen-year case filed by the Lake View School District that examined the structure for funding Arkansas schools. This case led to a revamp of public school funding in order to be fairer and more precise and to benefit all Arkansas students equally. McDaniel worked closely with legislators during his first two years as Attorney General, and in April 2006, the Arkansas General Assembly passed a law granting additional public schools of funding, and a special master final report in 2007 was positive, leading the court to declare the program funding for education becomes constitutional. Through a series of final reforms, the Lake View School District is consolidated with the Barton-Lexa School District.
McDaniel demanded that payday lenders in Arkansas close or face legal action, by ordering nearly 156 outlets to close and declaring: "In addition, I hereby require you to cancel all current and past due liabilities from your borrower, and refrain from any collection of activities related to this salary loan ". Over $ 7 million is provided through litigation on behalf of payday loan customers.
In 2009, after years of debate and discussion between agricultural advocates and animal welfare organizations, McDaniel brokered a successful bill to deal with animal cruelty. The bill, SB 77, calls for allegations of vicious crimes of animals exacerbated for the first offense when committed against dogs, cats, or horses. The bill defines animal cruelty as animal abuse, killing or injuring animals that are not your own, ignoring, starving, failing to provide adequate shelter, or dragging animals behind a vehicle. SB 77 includes harsher penalties when harassment is committed in front of a child, an increase in punishment for subsequent minor infringement charges (a fourth offense allegation will result in a crime) and requires psychological evaluation for offenders. The bill also prohibits all animals fighting because at that time, only the battle of the dog is illegal. The bill becomes Law 33 of 2009.
McDaniel passed a law empowering the Attorney General's Office as a statewide law enforcement agency, enabling the creation of a cyber division that pursues online sex offenders.
Secondary
McDaniel was not affected in 2010's Democratic Primary Party. During the election, he again faces the Green Party candidate Rebekah Kennedy. McDaniel easily retained his seat, capturing 72.8% of the vote to secure a second term.
During his second term, McDaniel became the first Arkansas Attorney General to argue before the US Supreme Court in nearly 16 years, successfully debating the State's position in Blueford v. Arkansas (2012).
The term also includes some settlements he does on behalf of the State of Arkansas. In March 2013, McDaniel announced the arbitration panel issued a verdict enabling a settlement to proceed between Arkansas and tobacco companies signing the 1998 Settlement Agreement. Arkansas received the entire amount of the settlement money in escrow, which amounted to $ 22.7 million. That November, McDaniel managed to negotiate a settlement deal with the North Little Rock School District, Pulaski County Special School District, and the Little Rock School District that wiped out millions of dollars in ongoing annual desegregation payments. The state will pay the $ 65.8 million district for four years with last year's funds only used for the construction of academic facilities. In January 2014, US District Judge D. Price Marshall accepted the agreement.
Position held as Attorney General
- National Association of Attorney Committee of Tobacco, Joint Chair
- Committee on Energy and Environment National Association of Generals, Joint Chairs
- Public Safety and Health Committee of the National Association of Generals, Joint Chairs
- National Association of Attorneys Association, Chairman
- General Association of Democratic Lawyers, Co-Chairs
- Representative of DNC Democrats Attorney General
- President Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign chair
- Rodel Fellow, The Aspen Institute
In June 2012, McDaniel filed documents to begin raising funds for the 2014 campaign for the Arkansas Governor. In the first six months, McDaniel raised more than $ 1.5 million. Early polls showed McDaniel as an outstanding favorite for Democratic nominations. However, in 2010 and 2012, Republicans took over Arkansas's politics and early voting showed McDaniel as a long shot against Republican opponent Asa Hutchinson. After admitting "inappropriate relationship" with Hot Springs prosecutor, McDaniel withdrew from the race in January 2013.
After McDaniel's withdrawal, former Congressman Mike Ross went in for a Democratic nomination. In 2014, Asa Hutchinson beat Mike Ross to become the 46th Arkansas Governor.
Back to Personal Practice
After being limited in January 2015, McDaniel founded McDaniel, Richardson & amp; Calhoun, PLLC (MRC) in Little Rock, Arkansas with partners Scott Richardson and Bart Calhoun. Richardson served as Senior Assistant The Attorney General oversaw state agency compliance and complex litigation including educational issues. Calhoun is an Assistant Attorney General who deals with issues of public protection, bankruptcy, and consumer litigation.
MRC clients include some of the largest companies in America, technology, internet, telecommunications, health insurance, healthcare providers, tobacco, and intellectual property companies.
In 2016, McDaniel was licensed for legal practice in the District of Columbia. He is also listed as a lobbyist in the State of Arkansas.
Personal life
McDaniel married Amanda Gail Miller McDaniel in 1996. They have one daughter, Emma Grace McDaniel (b. 2001). Dustin and Amanda divorced in 2008.
On June 12, 2009, McDaniel married Bobbi Pualani Fowler. Bobbi has two children from his previous marriage, Chris Eugene "C.J." Fowler, Jr. (b) 1999) and Alexandra Rose Fowler (b) 2001).
McDaniel is a diligent athlete, with a passion for hunting for Arkansas ducks and South Dakota bird hunts. He also has his pilot license.
McDaniel serves on several boards, including Our House, a homeless shelter in Little Rock; Association of Alumni University of Arkansas National Board of Directors; and, the Arkansas Democratic Executive Committee as the Democratic National Committee.
References
External links
- ArkansasAG.gov - Official Site
Source of the article : Wikipedia
0 Comments