Ronnie Earle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ronnie Earle
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Earle on a panel on ethics and government at Netroots Nation in Austin, Texas, July 2008
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| District Attorney of Travis County, Texas | |
| In office 1977–2009 |
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| Preceded by | Robert O. Smith |
| Succeeded by | Rosemary Lehmberg |
| Member of the Texas House of Representatives for the 37th district | |
| In office July 29, 1973 – December 14, 1976 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ronald Dale Earle
February 23, 1942 Fort Worth, Texas |
| Died | April 5, 2020 (aged 78) Austin, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
Ronald Dale Earle (born February 23, 1942 – died April 5, 2020) was an American politician and judge. He served as the District Attorney for Travis County, Texas, from 1977 to 2009. He became well-known for taking legal action against important government leaders.
In Texas, Earle was recognized for his efforts to improve the justice system. He focused on preventing crime and helping victims. He also worked on finding different ways to handle legal cases. Earle even once prosecuted himself for a small election rule mistake. He missed a deadline by one day and paid a fine. He served in public office for over 30 years in Travis County. He often joked that people called him the "District Eternity."
Earle believed that laws guide how society deals with crime. But he also thought that a community's shared "ethics infrastructure" was most important. This means the good values taught by families, teachers, and friends. He said this belief guided most of his work as District Attorney.
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All About Ronnie Earle
Early Life and Education
Earle was born in Fort Worth, Texas. He grew up on a cattle ranch in Birdville, Texas. As a young person, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He also worked as a lifeguard and played football. He was president of his high school student council.
At 19, Earle moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas. He also studied law at the University of Texas School of Law. While still a law student in 1967, he worked for Texas Governor John Connally.
After finishing law school, he became a municipal judge in Austin. He served from 1969 to 1972. At that time, he was the youngest judge in Texas.
His Public Service Career
Earle was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1972. He was a member of the Democratic Party. He served in the House until 1976. In 1976, he was elected District Attorney of Travis County. He held this position until 2008. He faced opponents in elections only twice during his long time in office.
Earle was married to Twila Hugley Earle for almost 30 years. From his first marriage, he had two children, Elisabeth Ashlea Earle and Charles Jason Earle. He also had one stepdaughter, Nikki Leigh Rowling, and four grandchildren.
His Work as District Attorney
The Travis County District Attorney's office investigates and handles legal cases. These cases are often related to how the Texas state government operates. Earle was elected as a Democrat in Austin. He was the only Democrat with statewide legal authority in that role.
During his time as District Attorney, Earle took legal action against many elected officials. These officials were from both major political parties. He often explained that his office focused on officials who were in power. He prosecuted Texas Attorney General Jim Mattox, a Democrat. He also prosecuted United States Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, a Republican. His most well-known case involved United States House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, a Republican. Mattox was found not guilty by a jury. Hutchison's case was dismissed. DeLay was found guilty, but his case was later overturned.
While his high-profile cases got a lot of attention, Earle's main focus was improving the justice system. He was an early supporter of changes that he called "engaging the community in its own protection." Earle's new ideas focused on preventing crime. He also worked on different ways to handle legal cases and support victims. He helped people who had been in trouble with the law get back into society. He spoke nationally about his work and continued to work on justice reform until he passed away.
In late 2007, Earle announced he would not run for reelection. This led to a race to fill his position. Four Democrats who worked in his office ran for the seat. In the primary election in March 2008, no one won more than half the votes. A runoff election was held between the top two candidates. Rosemary Lehmberg, whom Earle supported, won easily. She did not have a Republican opponent in the general election. She took office in January 2009. She became the first woman District Attorney in Travis County history.
In 2010, Earle ran for the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Texas. He used this campaign to promote his ideas for justice reform. He was not successful in this election.
Later Life and Legacy
Earle retired in Austin. He remained active in efforts to improve the justice system.
After he announced his retirement as District Attorney in December 2007, people began talking about him running for a statewide office. In 2009, his name was mentioned as a possible candidate for Texas Attorney General or Texas Governor.
Earle said he was thinking about running for one of these positions. On June 30, 2009, an online movement called DraftRonnie.com started. It encouraged Earle to run for Texas governor. This movement ended in September 2009 when another Democrat, Hank Gilbert, entered the race for Texas Governor. On December 18, 2009, Earle officially filed to run for Lieutenant Governor of Texas. However, he was defeated in the Democratic primary by Linda Chavez-Thompson. She was later defeated in the general election by the Republican David Dewhurst in November 2010.
Ronald Dale Earle passed away in Austin, Texas, on April 5, 2020. He was 78 years old.
