Terence Hallinan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Terence Hallinan
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| 26th District Attorney of San Francisco | |
| In office January 8, 1996 – January 8, 2004 |
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| Preceded by | Arlo Smith |
| Succeeded by | Kamala Harris |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 4, 1936 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Died | January 17, 2020 (aged 83) San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
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| Alma mater | University of California, Berkeley London School of Economics UC Hastings College of the Law |
| Profession | Attorney, politician |
Terence Hallinan (born December 4, 1936 – died January 17, 2020) was an American attorney and politician from San Francisco, California. He was known for his work as a lawyer and for serving as the District Attorney of San Francisco. Terence was one of six sons born to Vincent Hallinan, who was a presidential candidate, and his wife, Vivian. He studied at the London School of Economics, University of California, Berkeley, and University of California, Hastings College of the Law. After his studies, he worked as a private lawyer in San Francisco.
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Terence Hallinan's Early Life and Activism
Terence Hallinan grew up in a large house in Ross, California. When he was twelve, he had a serious accident, falling off his horse and getting lost near Yosemite for five days before being rescued.
As a young man, Hallinan was known for getting into physical disagreements. He boxed for the Golden Bears team at UC Berkeley and even sparred with the famous boxer Muhammad Ali during Olympic team tryouts in 1960.
While in law school, Hallinan became very interested in nonviolent resistance, which means protesting peacefully without using violence. He was arrested in London during a protest against nuclear weapons with Bertrand Russell. When he came back to America, he joined the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee and spent time in Mississippi working for civil rights. He was arrested a couple of times there, but important groups helped him get released.
Back in San Francisco, Hallinan helped organize groups that supported social causes. He took part in sit-ins at places like the Sheraton Palace Hotel to protest discrimination. His actions led to several arrests and convictions for civil disobedience in the city.
Becoming a Lawyer
After finishing law school, it was difficult for Hallinan to become a lawyer because of his past arrests and protests. The California State Bar, which decides who can practice law, questioned his character. Hallinan explained that his past actions were part of his strong beliefs in justice. Important people, like California State Assemblymen Willie Brown and John L. Burton, spoke up for him, saying he had good moral character.
The California State Bar initially refused to let him practice law. However, Hallinan appealed to the Supreme Court of California and won his case. The court decided that people who engage in peaceful protests for their beliefs should not be stopped from becoming lawyers, as they can still be highly qualified and courageous.
As a lawyer, Hallinan took on many interesting cases. He defended the Diggers, a group known for giving away free food, when they were arrested. He also represented people in high-profile cases, including a case involving a pet lion and a case known as the "barbecue murders". In 1988, he decided to leave his private law practice to start a career in politics. Later in his life, he faced some issues with his law license, leading to a temporary suspension.
Terence Hallinan's Political Journey
Terence Hallinan first tried to become a supervisor for San Francisco in 1977 but lost to Harvey Milk. He ran again in 1988 and this time won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, where he served for seven years.
In 1995, Hallinan ran for District Attorney of San Francisco. This is a very important job, as the District Attorney is the chief prosecutor for the city and county. Even though many people supported his opponent, Hallinan won the election. When he took office, he made some big changes, including replacing many senior prosecutors.
During his time as District Attorney, Hallinan became well-known for being against capital punishment, which is the death penalty. He believed it was wrong.
He handled several major cases that gained national attention. One famous case involved a woman who was killed by a dog, and Hallinan's team successfully prosecuted the dog's owners. He also brought charges against leaders of the SFPD (San Francisco Police Department) after an incident known as Fajitagate, though most of those charges were later dropped.
In 2003, Hallinan ran for re-election as District Attorney but was defeated by Kamala Harris, who later became Vice President of the United States. After leaving office in 2004, Hallinan returned to private law practice with his son.
Terence Hallinan passed away on January 17, 2020, at the age of 83. His death was announced by San Francisco Mayor London Breed.
Images for kids
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Terence Hallinan (second from right) at a 1999 District Attorney debate in San Francisco.
