Kurt Hohenstein
Kurt Hohenstein | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 17th district | |
| In office January 6, 1993 – August 10, 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Gerald Conway |
| Succeeded by | L. Patrick Engel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 12, 1955 |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | University of Nebraska–Lincoln (B.A., J.D.) University of Virginia (Ph.D.) |
| Occupation | History professor, attorney (disbarred) |
Kurt Hohenstein (born July 12, 1955) is a Republican politician, disbarred attorney, and history professor who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 17th district from January to August 1993.
Early career
[edit]Hohenstein was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1955.[1] He graduated from the Homer Community School in 1973, and then attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, receiving his bachelor's degree in 1976 and his Juris Doctor in 1980.[1] Hohenstein served on the Middle Missouri Natural Resources District from 1980 to 1986, and served as the part-time Dakota County Attorney.[1]
Nebraska Legislature
[edit]In 1992, Hohenstein announced that he would challenge incumbent State Senator Gerald Conway for re-election in the 17th district, which was based in northeastern Nebraska.[2] In the primary election, Hohenstein placed ahead of Conway, winning 56 percent of the vote to Conway's 44 percent.[3][4]
Following the primary election, the Supreme Court of Nebraska struck down the state's legislative districts, and the legislature subsequently redrew the districts.[5] Hohenstein attacked Conway, the chairman of the redistricting committee, for "gerrymandering" the 17th district for his own electoral benefit.[6] Hohenstein ultimately defeated Conway by a wide margin, receiving 61 percent of the vote to Conway's 39 percent.[3][7]
Legal troubles
[edit]Shortly after Hohenstein took office, the Nebraska State Bar Association received a complaint against Hohenstein from his former law partner, which alleged that he had stolen money from one of his clients.[8][9] The Bar initiated an investigation, which resulted in Hohenstein voluntarily surrendering his law license and the appointment of a special prosecutor.[8] The Supreme Court subsequently disbarred him.[9] Though Hohenstein originally said that he would not resign from the legislature,[8] he ultimately did so on August 10, 1993, in anticipation of being charged with a felony.[10] Later that day, special prosecutor Clarence Mock filed a felony theft charge against Hohenstein for stealing $30,298 from a former client, some of which he used to install a hot tub and spa at his personal home.[11] Mock alleged that Hohenstein had two faces: "There was one whose public face was of a law-and-order and hang'-em-high prosecutor," and the other was "the real Kurt Hohenstein, one who was engaged in a pattern of theft without any remorse[.]"[11]
Hohenstein pleaded guilty to the felony charge as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors in which he resigned from the legislature in exchange for not facing additional charges for other theft allegations.[11][12] He was sentenced to a prison term between six years and eight months to twenty years at the Nebraska State Penitentiary,[12] He was transferred to a minimum-security prison in 1994, and began working for the Gallup Organization doing telephone interviews as part of a work-release program.[13] In 1998, the Parole Board voted 3–1 to grant Hohenstein parole, and he was released from prison.[13]
Subsequent career
[edit]Following Hohenstein's release from prison, he attended the University of Virginia, receiving his Doctor of Philosophy in history.[14] He received the Hughes-Gossett Award from the Supreme Court Historical Society for a 2002 article that he authored, Just What the Doctor Ordered: the Harrison Anti-Narcotic Act, the Supreme Court, and the Federal Regulation of Medical Practice, 1915-1919.[15] He joined the faculty of Winona State University in 2005 as an assistant professor of history.[14]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 Meyer, Judy A., ed. (1993). Nebraska Blue Book 1993-93 (PDF). Clerk of the Nebraska Legislature. p. 267. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
- ↑ "Hohenstein Seeks District 17 Seat". Omaha World-Herald. February 12, 1992. p. 22. Retrieved April 4, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Beermann, Allen J. (1992). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 12, 1992, General Election, November 3, 1992 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
- ↑ Hammel, Paul (May 13, 1992). "All 16 Incumbents Win Renomination in Legislative Contests". Omaha World-Herald. p. 7. Retrieved April 4, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Hammel, Paul (August 13, 1992). "Candidate Joins Race Before District Created". Omaha World-Herald. p. 46031. Retrieved April 4, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Cordes, Henry J. (October 8, 1992). "Redistricting Adds to Conway's Challenge". Omaha World-Herald. p. 22. Retrieved April 4, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Gertzen, Jason (November 4, 1992). "Four State Senators Ousted; Another Trails". Omaha World-Herald. p. 39. Retrieved April 4, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 Gertzen, Jason (April 20, 1993). "Investigation to Focus on Theft Allegations Against Hohenstein". Omaha World-Herald. p. 20. Retrieved April 4, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 "Supreme Court disciplines Hohenstein with disbarment". Lincoln Journal. April 29, 1993. p. 16. Retrieved April 4, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Cordes, Henry J. (August 10, 1993). "Legislator Hohenstein Resigns". Omaha World-Herald. p. 1. Retrieved April 4, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 Cordes, Henry J. (August 11, 1993). "Prosecutor Says Hohenstein Had 2 Faces: Star, Thief". Omaha World-Herald. p. 13. Retrieved April 4, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Henion, T.L. (October 3, 1993). "Hohenstein Starts Serving Prison Term". Omaha World-Herald. p. 25. Retrieved April 4, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Tysver, Robynn (September 30, 1998). "Former Senator Granted Parole". Omaha World-Herald. p. 1. Retrieved April 4, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Knutson, Käri (September 19, 2007). "WSU professor to share story of redemption". Winona Daily News. p. 1A, 2A. Retrieved April 4, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Hughes-Gossett Award for Students". Supreme Court Historical Society. 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2026.