2008 Woodie Awards
UST alum runs for DA
Audrey Leon
Issue date: 2/19/08 Section: Other News
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Leitner graduated summa cum laude in 1972 with a bachelor's degree in political science. He obtained his law degree from the University of Houston in 1975.
Leitner previously ran against former Harris County D.A. Chuck Rosenthal, who resigned on Feb. 15.
Leitner said that he is running to facilitate change in the D.A.'s office. If elected, he said he plans to show respect for the community and make the department more diverse.
"The department should be an environment where races are treated equally, lawyers and defendants," Leitner said. "I want to bring respect back."
Leitner said that he wants to dispel the myth that candidates should do whatever it takes to win.
"Right now, the office cuts corners to get what they want," Leitner said. "But you get the right results for doing the right things."
Leitner said his fondest memories of UST involve the political science department. Before attending UST, Leitner said that he was interested in law, but after attending classes, he was convinced he made the right choice.
One political science professor in particular left a lasting impression on Leitner.
"Steve Zimmerman influenced all people from St. Thomas who went into law," Leitner said. "He made it come alive."
Leitner said that Zimmerman's class involved more than just reading cases; he explained the cases in a way that was not only interesting but easy to understand.
Leitner said Zimmerman's status as a practicing lawyer appealed to him.
"You could just tell that he loved what he did," Leitner said. "You felt like you'd be lucky to do what he did."
Leitner, a father of eight, has been a defense attorney for the past 24 years. He is also board certified as a specialist in criminal law.
Leitner said that he has participated in 300 jury trials in his 33-year career.
"I have represented the poor my entire career," Leitner said. "I have prosecuted every kind of crime, including death penalty cases."
Leitner has prosecuted two death penalty cases; in each case the individual was executed. As a defense attorney, he has worked on 30 death-penalty-eligible cases, eight of which went to trial as death penalty cases.