Linley E. Pearson (born April 18, 1946) is an American politician, lawyer, and judge who served as the thirty-seventh Attorney General of Indiana from January 12, 1981 to January 11, 1993.[1][2][3]

Linley Pearson
37th Attorney General of Indiana
In office
January 12, 1981 – January 11, 1993
GovernorRobert D. Orr
Evan Bayh
Preceded byTheodore L. Sendak
Succeeded byPamela Carter
Personal details
Born (1946-04-18) April 18, 1946 (age 78)
Long Beach, California, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationThe Citadel (BS)
Butler University (MBA)
Indiana University, Indianapolis (JD)

Biography

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Pearson was born in Long Beach, California. Pearson attended The Citadel (a senior military college in Charleston, South Carolina). Pearson obtained a master's degree from Butler University and a J.D. from Indiana University. Pearson is a former law clerk of Richard M. Givan, a Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court.[4]

Pearson, a resident of Frankfort, was elected Prosecutor of Clinton County in 1971.[5] Pearson is a Republican. When he was first elected, he was the youngest prosecutor in the state. He served as Prosecutor until 1980, when he was elected Indiana Attorney General, defeating Democratic challenger Robert Webster (an attorney from Indianapolis).[6] Pearson succeeded Theodore L. Sendak to the office and served as Attorney General in the administrations of Governors Robert D. Orr (a Republican) and Evan Bayh (a Democrat). Pearson was succeeded to the office by Pamela Carter, a Democrat.[7][4]

Pearson was the Republican candidate in the 1992 Indiana gubernatorial election, losing the race to incumbent Governor Evan Bayh.[3]

Pearson became Judge for the Clinton County Circuit Court in 1994, after he defeated the incumbent, Jack O'Neill, in the Republican primary.[3][8] He left in December 2012.[9]

In an interview with The Indiana Lawyer in 2021, Pearson criticized Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana on May 6, 1992 · Page 4". Newspapers.com. 1992-05-06. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
  2. ^ "The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana on October 4, 1992 · Page 13". Newspapers.com. 1992-10-04. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
  3. ^ a b c "The Indianapolis News from Indianapolis, Indiana on November 9, 1994 · 25". Newspapers.com. 1994-11-09. Retrieved 2018-08-02.
  4. ^ a b Myers, Hortense (12 Jun 1980). "Five Seek GOP AG Nomination". Rushville Republican.
  5. ^ "The Indianapolis News 28 Oct 1970, page 2". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  6. ^ "The Indianapolis News from Indianapolis, Indiana on November 3, 1994 · 79". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  7. ^ "Polls Indicate Small Changes In Statehouse". Logansport Pharos Tribune. 27 Oct 1980.
  8. ^ Archives, L. A. Times (1996-08-31). "Jack R. O'Neill; Judge Backed AIDS Victim". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  9. ^ "Linley E. Pearson". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2018-08-02.
  10. ^ Stafford, Dave (3 Mar 2021). "A veteran of Indiana GOP politics looks on, shakes his head". The Indiana Lawyer.
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Attorney General of Indiana
1980, 1984, 1988
Succeeded by
Timothy Bookwalter
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of Indiana
1992
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Attorney General of Indiana
1981–1993
Succeeded by