History of Jeanine Pirro in Timeline

"Jeanine Ferris Pirro is a well-known figure in American media and law. She has had a diverse career as a television host, author, judge, prosecutor, and politician. Notably, she made significant contributions to the legal landscape of New York State."

June 2, 1951: Birth of Jeanine Ferris Pirro

Jeanine Ferris Pirro was born on June 2, 1951.

1975: Appointed as Assistant District Attorney of Westchester County

District Attorney Carl Vergari appointed Pirro to the position of Assistant District Attorney of Westchester County, New York State in 1975. She started her career writing appeals and handling minor cases.

1975: Graduated from Albany Law School

Pirro graduated from Albany Law School in 1975, where she served as an editor of the law review.

1977: Advocated for Domestic Violence Bureau

In 1977, Pirro urged Vergari to apply for a federal grant to establish bureaus specialized in domestic violence in local district attorney's offices. This was driven by a change in New York law that shifted many domestic violence cases from family to criminal court.

1978: Appointed as Chief of the Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Bureau

Vergari appointed Pirro as the first chief of the newly established Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Bureau in 1978. Pirro gained recognition for her aggressive approach as bureau chief.

1983: Pirro Investigates Kathie Durst Disappearance

In 1983, as an investigating attorney, Pirro handled the high-profile case of Kathie Durst's disappearance. Her perspective on the case was later featured in the HBO series "The Jinx."

May 26, 1986: Announced as Running Mate for Lieutenant Governor

On May 26, 1986, Pirro, then an assistant district attorney, was announced as the running mate of Andrew O'Rourke, the presumptive Republican gubernatorial nominee, for the position of Lieutenant Governor of New York.

May 28, 1986: Withdrawal from Lieutenant Governor Race

Two days after being announced as O'Rourke's running mate, Pirro withdrew from the Lieutenant Governor race. She cited concerns about potential conflicts of interest related to her husband's legal clients and business interests.

1986: Campaign for Lieutenant Governor of New York

During her unsuccessful 1986 campaign for Lieutenant Governor of New York, Pirro claimed to have never lost a case in "about 50 trials." This figure was later disputed, with colleagues suggesting the actual number of trials she personally handled was closer to 10.

June 1, 1990: Bedside Investigation of Maria Amaya

On June 1, 1990, Pirro conducted a bedside investigation of Maria Amaya, who was charged with murdering her four children. Amaya, a 36-year-old immigrant from El Salvador with a history of mental health issues, killed her children and attempted suicide, believing they were being negatively influenced by drugs and sex.

November 1990: Elected as Judge of the Westchester County Court

Following her election victory in November 1990, Pirro became the first woman to serve as a judge of the Westchester County Court.

1990: Refusal to Reopen the Angela Correa Murder Case

During her time as District Attorney, Pirro refused to reopen the case of Angela Correa, who was murdered by Jeffrey Deskovic. Deskovic was wrongfully convicted in 1990 and spent 16 years in prison before being exonerated by DNA evidence.

1990: Elected as Judge of the Westchester County Court

In 1990, Pirro was elected as a judge of the Westchester County (N.Y.) Court, becoming the first woman to hold that position.

November 1993: Elected as Westchester County District Attorney

Pirro made history in November 1993 by becoming the first woman elected as the Westchester County District Attorney.

1993: Elected as Westchester County District Attorney

In 1993, Pirro was elected as the Westchester County District Attorney, making her the first woman to hold this position as well.

December 31, 1993: Murder of Anne Scripps Douglas

Hours after Pirro's inauguration as District Attorney on December 31, 1993, Anne Scripps Douglas, a Scripps newspaper heiress, was murdered by her estranged husband, Scott Douglas, in Bronxville, New York. Scott Douglas later died by suicide.

March 1994: Scott Douglas's Body Found

The body of Scott Douglas, who murdered his estranged wife Anne Scripps Douglas, was found in Riverdale in early March 1994 after he jumped off the Tappan Zee Bridge.

June 1994: Frequent Television News Contributor

Following the high-profile murder case of Anne Scripps Douglas, Pirro became a frequent commentator on network and cable television news, particularly during the O.J. Simpson trial in June 1994.

1997: Pirro named one of People's '50 Most Beautiful People'

In 1997, Jeanine Pirro was recognized by People magazine as one of its '50 Most Beautiful People.'

1997: Re-elected as Westchester County District Attorney

Pirro secured her re-election as Westchester County District Attorney in 1997.

1998: Albert Pirro's paternity confirmed

In 1998, DNA testing confirmed that Albert Pirro, Jeanine Pirro's husband, fathered a daughter with a Florida woman, leading to a court order for child support payments. This occurred before their children were born.

February 23, 1999: Albert Pirro indicted on tax-related charges

On February 23, 1999, Jeanine Pirro's husband, Albert, was indicted on counts including conspiracy and tax evasion for concealing over $1 million in personal income as business expenses. Jeanine Pirro publicly criticized the investigation as 'invasive and hostile.'

June 23, 2000: Albert Pirro found guilty of tax evasion charges

On June 23, 2000, Albert Pirro was found guilty of 23 charges related to tax evasion while being acquitted of 10 others. He served 17 months in prison, benefiting from early release due to good behavior and participation in an alcoholism treatment program.

2001: Re-elected as Westchester County District Attorney (2nd term)

In 2001, Pirro was re-elected for a second term as the Westchester County District Attorney.

2003: Pirro Publishes First Book

Jeanine Pirro ventured into writing with her first book, "To Punish and Protect: A DA's Fight Against a System That Coddles Criminals," published in 2003.

2004: Pirro Publishes Second Book

In 2004, Pirro released her second book, also titled "To Punish and Protect: Against a System That Coddles Criminals." It's unclear if this was a revised edition or a separate work.

May 23, 2005: Announcement to Not Seek Re-election

On May 23, 2005, Pirro announced her decision to not seek re-election for a fourth term as Westchester County District Attorney.

August 10, 2005: Pirro Announces Candidacy for U.S. Senate

On August 10, 2005, Jeanine Pirro announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate from New York, challenging incumbent Hillary Clinton. However, her campaign launch was marred by a notable gaffe when she misplaced a page of her speech, causing a lengthy silence that was widely perceived as damaging.

December 21, 2005: Pirro Withdraws from Senate Race

Facing lagging fundraising and unfavorable polls in her U.S. Senate campaign, Pirro withdrew from the race on December 21, 2005. She stated that she believed her background better suited a run for New York State attorney general.

2005: Dispute Over Number of Trials Handled

In 2005, the number of trials Pirro claimed to have handled during her time as an Assistant District Attorney was disputed. Her then-spokesman, Anne Marie Corbalis, maintained that Pirro had a "100% felony conviction rate" in that role.

May 31, 2006: Pirro Becomes Republican Candidate for New York Attorney General

On May 31, 2006, Pirro was officially nominated as the Republican candidate for New York Attorney General. She ran against Democrat Andrew Cuomo and lost the general election.

2006: Republican Nomination for US Senate and New York Attorney General

In 2006, Pirro briefly pursued the Republican nomination for the US Senate against Hillary Clinton but later dropped out to accept the nomination for New York Attorney General. She lost the general election to Democrat Andrew Cuomo.

May 5, 2008: Pirro to Host "Judge Jeanine Pirro" on The CW

On May 5, 2008, The CW Television Network announced Pirro would host a new weekday court show, "Judge Jeanine Pirro," as part of their daytime lineup.

2008: Host of "Judge Jeanine Pirro"

Pirro began hosting the weekday television show "Judge Jeanine Pirro" on The CW in 2008.

2009: "Judge Jeanine Pirro" Renewed for Second Season

"Judge Jeanine Pirro" was renewed for a second season, which began airing in the fall of 2009. Unlike the first season, the second season was not exclusive to The CW affiliates.

2010: "Judge Jeanine Pirro" Nominated for Daytime Emmy

Pirro's show, "Judge Jeanine Pirro," received a nomination for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program at the 37th Daytime Emmy Awards in 2010, recognizing its contribution to daytime television.

January 2011: "Justice with Judge Jeanine" Premieres on Fox News

Pirro returned to television with "Justice with Judge Jeanine," a weekend program on Fox News that premiered in January 2011, focusing on legal analysis of current events.

September 2011: "Judge Jeanine Pirro" Canceled

Despite a Daytime Emmy Award win in 2011 for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program, "Judge Jeanine Pirro" was canceled in September 2011 due to low ratings.

2011: Host of "Justice with Judge Jeanine"

In 2011, Pirro started hosting "Justice with Judge Jeanine" on Fox News Channel.

2012: Pirro Publishes First Novel, "Sly Fox"

Drawing from her experience as an assistant district attorney, Pirro authored the crime novel "Sly Fox" in 2012, marking her foray into fiction writing.

2014: Pirro Makes False Claim About Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

In 2014, Pirro incorrectly asserted that ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had been released from custody by President Obama in 2009. Baghdadi's release occurred in 2004 under the Bush administration.

2014: Pirro Publishes Sequel, "Clever Fox"

Pirro continued the "Dani Fox" series with the publication of her second novel, "Clever Fox: A Dani Fox Novel," in 2014.

February 2018: Pirro comments on domestic abuse allegations and Obama

In February 2018, following the resignation of two senior Trump administration officials due to domestic abuse allegations, Jeanine Pirro controversially suggested that the policies of former President Barack Obama were to blame for the scandals.

February 2018: Pirro's Book Contains Factual Error

Pirro's "Liars, Leakers, and Liberals" contained a factual error regarding Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's statements about the Russia collusion investigation. PolitiFact debunked Pirro's claim that Rosenstein had declared the investigation over.

April 2018: Pirro Releases Pro-Trump Book

In April 2018, Pirro released "Liars, Leakers, and Liberals: The Case Against the Anti-Trump Conspiracy," a book that defended President Trump and criticized his opponents. The book drew criticism for its pro-Trump stance.

May 2018: Pirro claims Trump fulfilled biblical prophecy

In May 2018, Jeanine Pirro declared that President Donald Trump had "fulfilled" a "biblical prophecy" by moving the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, a significant and contentious political move.

June 2018: Pirro praises Trump's pardon of Dinesh D'Souza

In June 2018, Jeanine Pirro expressed support for President Trump's decision to pardon conservative activist Dinesh D'Souza, who had been convicted of making illegal campaign contributions. She viewed the pardon as "fantastic news," believing D'Souza was unfairly targeted for his political views.

July 2018: Pirro defends Trump after Helsinki summit

In July 2018, Jeanine Pirro defended President Trump following criticism for his unwillingness to condemn Russian interference in the 2016 election during a summit with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki. She questioned what Trump was supposed to do, suggesting he couldn't take drastic actions like 'take a gun out and shoot Putin.'

2018: Publication of "Liars, Leakers, and Liberals: The Case Against the Anti-Trump Conspiracy"

Pirro authored the book "Liars, Leakers, and Liberals: The Case Against the Anti-Trump Conspiracy," which was published in 2018.

March 2019: Pirro's Comments on Rep. Ilhan Omar Spark Controversy

In March 2019, Pirro faced backlash for her comments about Rep. Ilhan Omar, questioning Omar's loyalty to the U.S. Constitution based on her Muslim faith. Fox News condemned her remarks, and Pirro was subsequently suspended.

March 16, 2019: Fox News Pulls "Justice with Judge Jeanine" Episode

Fox News decided not to air an episode of "Justice with Judge Jeanine" on March 16, 2019, following Pirro's controversial remarks about Rep. Ilhan Omar. The episode was replaced with a rerun.

March 30, 2019: "Justice with Judge Jeanine" Returns to Air

After a two-week hiatus, "Justice with Judge Jeanine" resumed airing on March 30, 2019, following Pirro's suspension for her comments about Rep. Ilhan Omar.

November 2019: Pirro describes Trump as 'almost superhuman'

In November 2019, Jeanine Pirro praised President Donald Trump, describing him as 'almost superhuman' in her commentary.

December 2019: Pirro praises Trump for allowing people to say 'Merry Christmas'

In December 2019, Jeanine Pirro claimed that President Trump had made it possible for people to freely say 'Merry Christmas' again, highlighting her support for his impact on social expressions.

2019: Pirro Publishes "Radicals, Resistance, and Revenge"

In 2019, Pirro released "Radicals, Resistance, and Revenge: The Left's Plot to Remake America," a book critical of the political left in the United States.

2019: Unpaid Campaign Debts Resurface

In 2019, it was reported that Pirro's unsuccessful 2006 Senate campaign still had outstanding debts to vendors, highlighting the long-term financial implications of political campaigns.

February 2020: Pirro's incorrect prediction on impeachment's impact

In February 2020, Jeanine Pirro predicted that the impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump would lead to a loss of the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives in the 2020 elections. This prediction did not come true, and was later noted by Politico as one of the most audacious and incorrect forecasts of the year.

March 2020: Pirro's On-Air Appearance Raises Concerns

During a March 2020 broadcast of her show from home amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Pirro's disheveled appearance and slurred speech led to widespread speculation about her sobriety. The incident raised concerns about her on-air conduct.

September 23, 2020: Pirro Publishes "Don't Lie to Me"

On September 23, 2020, Pirro published "Don't Lie to Me: and Stop Trying to Steal Our Freedom," a book that continued her conservative commentary.

December 2020: Smartmatic Demands Retractions from Fox News Hosts

Following the 2020 election, Pirro and fellow Fox News hosts Lou Dobbs and Maria Bartiromo faced criticism for promoting baseless allegations of voting machine fraud. Voting machine company Smartmatic, which was targeted by these allegations, demanded retractions from Fox News.

2020: False Claims of Voting Machine Fraud

Following the 2020 presidential election, Pirro made unsubstantiated claims of voting machine fraud.

January 20, 2021: Albert Pirro pardoned by Trump

On January 20, 2021, Albert Pirro, Jeanine Pirro's former husband, was granted a pardon by President Donald Trump shortly before leaving office.

February 4, 2021: Smartmatic Files $2.7 Billion Defamation Lawsuit Against Fox Corporation

On February 4, 2021, Smartmatic, a voting technology company, filed a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox Corporation, which named Pirro as a defendant. The lawsuit alleged that Fox News Network and several individuals, including Pirro, were primary sources of false information that harmed Smartmatic's business reputation.

February 2021: Defamation Lawsuits by Smartmatic and Dominion Voting Systems

In February 2021, Pirro was named as a defendant in a defamation lawsuit filed by Smartmatic. She was also among the hosts named in the Dominion Voting Systems v. Fox News Network defamation lawsuit for broadcasting false statements about Dominion's voting machines. Fox News settled the Dominion case for $787.5 million and publicly acknowledged that the broadcast statements were false.

February 2021: Smartmatic Files Defamation Suit Against Fox News

Smartmatic filed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News in February 2021, naming Pirro among other network employees as defendants. The lawsuit stemmed from the network's coverage of unsubstantiated claims about voting machine fraud in the 2020 election.

January 12, 2022: Jeanine Pirro announced as permanent co-host on The Five

On January 12, 2022, it was announced that Jeanine Pirro would become a permanent co-host on the Fox News program The Five, starting January 24, 2022. This marked the end of her show Justice with Judge Jeanine.

March 2022: Pirro Dismissed from Smartmatic Lawsuit

In March 2022, a judge dismissed Pirro from the Smartmatic defamation lawsuit. However, this decision was later appealed.

2022: Co-host of "The Five"

Pirro became a co-host of "The Five" in 2022.

February 2023: Appeals Court Reinstates Pirro as Defendant

An appeals court reinstated Pirro as a defendant in the Smartmatic defamation lawsuit in February 2023, overturning the previous ruling that had dismissed her from the case.