California Attorney General
During Van de Kamp's administration as California Attorney General, he helped to create the Public Rights Division, which focuses on the enforcement of environmental, consumer protection, anti-trust, and civil rights issues. He also helped to modernize the Department of Justice by beginning support of DNA forensic investigation. He was re-elected easily in 1986.
In 1987, Van De Kamp unsuccessfully led the State's charge against pornography by defending the pandering conviction of adult filmmaker Harold Freeman. Ultimately, the California State Supreme Court overturned Freeman's conviction. Van De Kamp appealed to the United States Supreme Court, who declined to hear the case, thus effectively legalizing the production of adult films.
In 1989, George Deukmejian announced that he would not seek third term as Governor of California the following year. Van de Kamp ran for the office in 1990, hoping to succeed Deukmejian a second time. But Van de Kamp lost the Democratic primary election to Dianne Feinstein.
Read more about this topic: John Van De Kamp
Famous quotes containing the words california, attorney and/or general:
“This land is your land, this land is my land, From California to the New York Island. From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters This land was made for you and me.”
—Woody Guthrie (1912–1967)
“I always was of opinion that the placing a youth to study with an attorney was rather a prejudice than a help.... The only help a youth wants is to be directed what books to read, and in what order to read them.”
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)
“In communist society, where nobody has one exclusive sphere of activity but each can become accomplished in any branch he wishes, society regulates the general production and thus makes it possible for me to do one thing today and another tomorrow, to hunt in the morning, fish in the afternoon, rear cattle in the evening, criticize after dinner, just as I have a mind, without ever becoming hunter, fisherman, shepherd or critic.”
—Karl Marx (1818–1883)