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Sheila Jackson LeeAmerican lawyer and politician
Date of Birth: 12.01.1950
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Legal and Political Career
- Municipal Judge and City Council Member
- - Elected to the Houston City Council (1990-1994).
- - Authored the bill establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday.
- Controversy and Retirement
- Mayoral Candidacy and Later Life
- - Lost the runoff to Whitmire by a significant margin.
- - Had two children, Jason and Erica.
Early Life and Education
Birth and ChildhoodSheila Jackson Lee was born on January 12, 1950, in Queens, New York.
Education
- Graduated from Jamaica High School (New York City) in 1968.
- Earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Yale University in 1972.
- Completed a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1975.
Legal and Political Career
Early Career- Engaged in private law practice.
- Served as a consultant to the House Select Committee on Assassinations (1977-1978).
Municipal Judge and City Council Member
- Served as municipal judge for the city of Houston, Texas (1987-1990).
- Elected to the Houston City Council (1990-1994).
U.S. House of Representatives- Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Texas's 18th Congressional District as a Democrat in 1994, defeating incumbent Craig Washington in the primary.
- Reelected 14 consecutive times, running unopposed in 10 elections and receiving over two-thirds of the vote in the remaining races.
- Served on the House Judiciary, Budget, and Homeland Security Committees.
- Sponsored or cosponsored legislation related to criminal justice, civil rights, and the rights of youth and women.
- Authored the bill establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday.
House Committee Positions- Became the first female Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, later serving as its Chair.
Controversy and Retirement
- Resigned from her committee leadership positions in 2019 amidst controversy surrounding a sexual assault lawsuit by a former staff member.
Mayoral Candidacy and Later Life
Houston Mayoral Race- Ran for mayor of Houston in 2023, making it to a runoff election with Texas State Senator John Whitmire.
- Lost the runoff to Whitmire by a significant margin.
Personal Life and Death- Married to Dr. Alvin Lee, a Yale University graduate and University of Houston administrator.
- Had two children, Jason and Erica.
- Diagnosed with breast cancer but declared cancer-free in 2012.- Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2024.
- Passed away at a Houston hospital on July 19, 2024, at the age of 74.
