Janet Reno Attorney General

In 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed Janet Reno as Attorney General of the United States, making her the first woman to head the Department of Justice. Before her appointment, Reno had served for many years as the State Attorney for Dade County, Florida, the elected chief prosecutor for the Miami area, where she had built a reputation for prosecuting violent crime and reforming the handling of juvenile and domestic cases.

Reno held the office until 2001, serving the full length of the Clinton administration and becoming one of the longest-tenured attorneys general in American history. Her tenure included high-profile and controversial episodes, but her appointment marked a significant milestone, placing a woman at the head of federal law enforcement for the first time and reinforcing the growing presence of women in the highest ranks of government.