J. Joseph Curran Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
J. Joseph Curran Jr.
|
|
|---|---|
Curran in 2012
|
|
| 44th Attorney General of Maryland | |
| In office January 21, 1987 – January 17, 2007 |
|
| Governor | William Donald Schaefer Parris Glendening Bob Ehrlich Martin O'Malley |
| Preceded by | Stephen H. Sachs |
| Succeeded by | Doug Gansler |
| 4th Lieutenant Governor of Maryland | |
| In office January 19, 1983 – January 21, 1987 |
|
| Governor | Harry Hughes |
| Preceded by | Samuel Bogley |
| Succeeded by | Melvin Steinberg |
| Member of the Maryland State Senate | |
| In office January 1963 – January 1983 |
|
| Preceded by | J. Raymond Buffington, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | John A. Pica, Jr. |
| Constituency | 3rd district (1963–1967) 9th district (1967–1975) 43rd district (1975–1982) |
| Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 3rd district | |
| In office January 1959 – January 1963 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 7, 1931 West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Barbara Marie Atkins |
| Children | 5, including Katie |
| Alma mater | University of Baltimore (BA, LLB) |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1951–1955 |
| Battles/wars | Korean War |
J. Joseph Curran Jr. (born July 7, 1931) is an American politician and lawyer. He served as the 44th Attorney General of Maryland from 1987 to 2007. Before that, he was the fourth lieutenant governor of Maryland from 1983 to 1987.
Curran holds the record as the longest-serving elected Attorney General in Maryland's history. His son-in-law, Martin J. O'Malley, later became the 61st governor of Maryland.
Contents
Early Life and Education
J. Joseph Curran Jr. was born in West Palm Beach, Florida. His father, J. Joseph Curran Sr., was a member of the Baltimore City Council. Young Curran attended Catholic schools in Baltimore.
He graduated from Loyola High School. Later, he earned degrees from the University of Baltimore.
Military Service and Law School
Curran served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1955. After his military service, he returned to Baltimore. He studied law at the University of Baltimore School of Law. In 1959, he earned his law degree.
That same year, Curran was allowed to practice law in Maryland. He is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association.
Political Career Highlights
Curran is a member of the Democratic Party. He began his political career in the Maryland House of Delegates. He served there from 1959 to 1963.
After that, he became a member of the Maryland Senate. He served in the Senate for 20 years, from 1963 to 1983.
Serving as Lieutenant Governor
From 1983 to 1987, Curran was the Lieutenant Governor of Maryland. He served under Governor Harry Hughes. This role prepared him for his next important position.
Becoming Attorney General
In 1986, Curran was elected as the Attorney General of Maryland. He had just finished his four years as lieutenant governor. He was re-elected four times: in 1990, 1994, 1998, and 2002.
He decided not to run for re-election in 2006. This was because of his age and his long career. It also avoided any possible conflicts of interest. His son-in-law, Martin O'Malley, was running for governor at the time.
Family Life
J. Joseph Curran Jr. has two brothers, Martin "Mike" Curran and Robert W. Curran. Both of his brothers also served on the Baltimore City Council.
Curran is married to Barbara Curran. She is a talented painter. They have four living children: three daughters and one son.
Meet the Curran Children
- His youngest daughter, Katie, was a state district court judge for many years. She is married to former Governor Martin O'Malley.
- His middle daughter, Alice, works as a chief financial officer at a private school in Florida.
- His son, J. Joseph "Max" Curran, is a partner at a law firm called Venable.
- His eldest daughter, Mary Carole Curran, is a skilled photographer in Baltimore City.
Awards and Recognition
AARP Maryland created a special award named after J. Joseph Curran Jr. It is called the "J. Joseph Curran Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award." This award is given to people who have shown a lifelong dedication to helping others through volunteering and community involvement.
