Greta Van Susteren
Encyclopedia
Greta Van Susteren is an American
commentator and television personality on the Fox News Channel
, where she hosts On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren. A former criminal defense and civil trial lawyer, she appeared as a legal analyst on CNN
co-hosting Burden of Proof with Roger Cossack
from 1994 to 2002, playing defense attorney to Cossack's prosecutor.
, and is of Dutch
, French
, Irish
and German ancestry on her paternal side.
Van Susteren's sister, Lise
, is a forensic psychiatrist
in Bethesda, Maryland
. In 2006, Lise was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. Her brother, Dirk Van Susteren, was a journalist and long-time editor of the Vermont Sunday magazine, jointly published, until folding in 2008, by the Rutland Herald and the Barre-Montpelier-Times Argus. Van Susteren's father, Urban Van Susteren, an elected judge, was a longtime friend of U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy
, and a campaign strategist for him, although Urban later broke with him.
in Appleton in 1972 and the University of Wisconsin in Madison
in 1976, where she studied geography and economics. She later earned a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center
in 1979 and prior to the start of her television work returned to Georgetown Law as an adjunct faculty member in addition to her full-time legal career.
During coverage of the O. J. Simpson murder trial
, she appeared regularly on CNN as a legal analyst. This led to her stint as co-host of CNN's Burden of Proof and The Point.
In 2002, Van Susteren switched to the Fox News Channel after a highly publicized contract bidding war
. According to People Magazine, Van Susteren has utilized cosmetic surgery to enhance her screen presentation. Since then, she has hosted the current affairs
show On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren.
. He has served as an adviser for Sarah Palin
.
Van Susteren and her husband are members of the Church of Scientology
.
Since 2006, she has been part owner of a restaurant, the Old Mill Inn, in Mattituck, New York
, on the North Fork
of Long Island.
In recognition of her Dutch heritage she was asked to assume the role of Honorary Chairperson of the Little Chute Windmill
Committee. The windmill, an authentic reproduction of a Dutch one, will be built in Little Chute, Wisconsin
, where Van Susteren's family lived for some time.
She is a shareholder
of the Green Bay Packers
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
commentator and television personality on the Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel , often called Fox News, is a cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation...
, where she hosts On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren. A former criminal defense and civil trial lawyer, she appeared as a legal analyst on CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
co-hosting Burden of Proof with Roger Cossack
Roger Cossack
Roger Cossack is currently a legal analyst for ESPN, TruTV, and a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Pepperdine University School of Law. Cossack graduated from UCLA and UCLA School of Law and worked as a prosecutor in Los Angeles County, California. Cossack also argued in front of the United...
from 1994 to 2002, playing defense attorney to Cossack's prosecutor.
Early life
Van Susteren was born in Appleton, WisconsinAppleton, Wisconsin
Appleton is a city in Outagamie, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is situated on the Fox River, 30 miles southwest of Green Bay and 100 miles north of Milwaukee. Appleton is the county seat of Outagamie County. The population was 78,086 at the 2010 census...
, and is of Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
, French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
, Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
and German ancestry on her paternal side.
Van Susteren's sister, Lise
Lise Van Susteren
Lise Van Susteren is an American forensic psychiatrist in private practice in Washington, DC and environmental activist. In 2006 she sought the Democratic nomination to the U.S. Senate in Maryland, but withdrew from the race in April 2006....
, is a forensic psychiatrist
Forensic psychiatry
Forensic psychiatry is a sub-speciality of psychiatry and an auxiliar science of criminology. It encompasses the interface between law and psychiatry...
in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
. In 2006, Lise was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. Her brother, Dirk Van Susteren, was a journalist and long-time editor of the Vermont Sunday magazine, jointly published, until folding in 2008, by the Rutland Herald and the Barre-Montpelier-Times Argus. Van Susteren's father, Urban Van Susteren, an elected judge, was a longtime friend of U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy
Joseph Raymond "Joe" McCarthy was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957...
, and a campaign strategist for him, although Urban later broke with him.
Career
Van Susteren graduated from Xavier High SchoolXavier High School (Appleton, Wisconsin)
Xavier High School is a private Catholic secondary school in Appleton, Wisconsin, in the Diocese of Green Bay. It was opened in 1959 by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools . The school was named in honor of St...
in Appleton in 1972 and the University of Wisconsin in Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
in 1976, where she studied geography and economics. She later earned a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
in 1979 and prior to the start of her television work returned to Georgetown Law as an adjunct faculty member in addition to her full-time legal career.
During coverage of the O. J. Simpson murder trial
O. J. Simpson murder case
The O. J. Simpson murder case was a criminal trial held in Los Angeles County, California Superior Court from January 29 to October 3, 1995. Former American football star and actor O. J...
, she appeared regularly on CNN as a legal analyst. This led to her stint as co-host of CNN's Burden of Proof and The Point.
In 2002, Van Susteren switched to the Fox News Channel after a highly publicized contract bidding war
Bidding war
Bidding War is a card game typically involving two players. A radical variation of the classic game War, the result is not predetermined and a good player can win consistently....
. According to People Magazine, Van Susteren has utilized cosmetic surgery to enhance her screen presentation. Since then, she has hosted the current affairs
Current affairs (news format)
Current Affairs is a genre of broadcast journalism where the emphasis is on detailed analysis and discussion of news stories that have recently occurred or are ongoing at the time of broadcast....
show On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren.
Personal life
Van Susteren married tort lawyer John P. Coale in 1988. Coale, a self-described "ambulance chaser", became known as "Bhopal Coale" for his solicitation of clients among victims of the Bhopal disasterBhopal disaster
The Bhopal disaster also known as Bhopal Gas Tragedy was a gas leak incident in India, considered one of the world's worst industrial catastrophes. It occurred on the night of December 2–3, 1984 at the Union Carbide India Limited pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India...
. He has served as an adviser for Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
.
Van Susteren and her husband are members of the Church of Scientology
Church of Scientology
The Church of Scientology is an organization devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. The Church of Scientology International is the Church of Scientology's parent organization, and is responsible for the overall ecclesiastical management, dissemination and...
.
Since 2006, she has been part owner of a restaurant, the Old Mill Inn, in Mattituck, New York
Mattituck, New York
Mattituck is a census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 4,198 at the 2000 census.Mattituck CDP roughly corresponds to the hamlet by the same name in the town of Southold.- History :...
, on the North Fork
North Fork, Suffolk County, New York
The North Fork is a 30-mile-long peninsula in the northeast part of Suffolk County, New York, roughly parallel with an even longer peninsula known as the South Fork...
of Long Island.
In recognition of her Dutch heritage she was asked to assume the role of Honorary Chairperson of the Little Chute Windmill
Little Chute Windmill
The Little Chute Windmill and Van Asten Visitor Center is a planned functioning Dutch smock mill and interpretive center in Little Chute, Wisconsin, United States. The authentic wooden windmill will include an adjoining visitor center...
Committee. The windmill, an authentic reproduction of a Dutch one, will be built in Little Chute, Wisconsin
Little Chute, Wisconsin
Little Chute is a village in Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 10,476 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Little Chute is located at ....
, where Van Susteren's family lived for some time.
She is a shareholder
Shareholder
A shareholder or stockholder is an individual or institution that legally owns one or more shares of stock in a public or private corporation. Shareholders own the stock, but not the corporation itself ....
of the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
.