Week 4 Justice Alberto Gonzales In remarks he made recently on behalf of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, Justice Alberto Gonzales mentioned that his father had worked "harder than any person" he had ever known. With his many responsibilities as Counsel to President George W. Bush, a position he has held since January 2001, Justice Gonzales' own sons are probably repeating the phrase about their father. In addition to handling the usual responsibilities of the Counsel to the President, which in the past included providing ethics advice to the President; researching the backgrounds of federal appointees; and reviewing bills and pardons; Justice Gonzales spends many hours working on issues related to military law and the President's campaign against terrorism. As a young enlisted soldier in the U.S. Air Force, stationed in Alaska, 20 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Alberto Gonzales may not have dreamed he would one day serve as Counsel to the President of the United States. He speaks of his work as Counsel to the President as "the most rewarding and most challenging thing" he has ever done. Justice Gonzales' path to the White House began with attending the U.S. Air Force Academy and earning his diploma from Rice University in 1979, followed by his graduation from Harvard Law School in 1982. Upon graduation from law school, Alberto Gonzales joined the firm of Vinson & Elkins LLP in Houston, where he had clerked while a law student. He practiced general corporate business law there for 13 years and also taught law at the University of Houston Law Center, before then Governor George Bush asked him to serve as his general counsel, in 1994. He recalls his work in that office as "the most fun" he ever had as a lawyer, and continued in that office until he was appointed by Governor Bush to serve as Secretary of State in 1997. In that capacity he served as the State's chief elections officer and the Governor's lead liaison on border issues with Mexico. In 1998, he was appointed to the Texas Supreme Court. After successfully campaigning and winning election to the court, newly elected President Bush invited Justice Gonzales to the White House to serve as his Counsel in the new administration. Active in many professional and civic organizations, Justice Gonzales is an elected member of the American Law Institute and has held offices in the Texas Bar Foundation, the State Bar of Texas, and served as President of the Houston Bar Association. He also served as Chair of the Commission for District Decentralization of the Houston Independent School District and was appointed to the Advisory Committee of the Texas Real Estate Center. His many honors include an honorary degree from the Catholic University of America and he received the Harvard Law School Association Award, the highest award given by the alumni association to a Harvard Law School graduate. He was recognized as Latino Lawyer of the Year in 1999, by the Hispanic National Bar Association and received a Presidential Citation from the State Bar of Texas for his dedication to addressing basic legal needs of the indigent. Justice Gonzales attributes his success to the sacrifices his parents made in order to help give their eight children a chance to succeed. He and his wife Rebecca have three sons. Gonzales celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month as a reminder of the sacrifices and achievements made, as well as a celebration of a commitment to family, country, and the beautiful Hispanic culture. The American Bar Association is honored to profile Justice Alberto Gonzales in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month. Photo Usage: Permission to use the above photo was granted by Justice Alberto Gonzales. Hispanic Heritage Month 2002 | Links