J. Joseph Curran Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
J. Joseph Curran Jr.
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Curran in 2012
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| 44th Attorney General of Maryland | |
| In office January 21, 1987 – January 17, 2007 |
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| 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 |
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| Governor | Harry Hughes |
| Preceded by | Samuel Bogley |
| Succeeded by | Melvin Steinberg |
| Member of the Maryland State Senate | |
| In office January 1963 – January 1983 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 4th 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 O'Malley, later became the 61st Governor of Maryland.
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Early Life and Education
J. Joseph Curran Jr. was born in West Palm Beach, Florida, on July 7, 1931. He grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and went to local schools there. He graduated from Loyola High School.
After high school, Curran served in the United States Air Force from 1951 to 1955. When he returned to Baltimore, he studied law at the University of Baltimore School of Law. He earned his law degree in 1959 and became a lawyer in Maryland that same year.
A Long Career in Public Service
Curran is a member of the Democratic Party. He spent many years working for the people of Maryland.
- He started his political career in the Maryland House of Delegates. This is part of Maryland's state legislature. He served there from 1959 to 1963.
- Next, he became a member of the Maryland State Senate. This is the other part of the state legislature. He served as a state senator for 20 years, from 1963 to 1983.
- From 1983 to 1987, Curran served as the Lieutenant Governor of Maryland. He worked alongside Governor Harry Hughes during this time. The Lieutenant Governor is like a vice-president for the state.
Serving as Attorney General
In 1986, after being Lieutenant Governor, Curran was elected as Maryland's Attorney General. The Attorney General is the state's chief legal officer. They act as the lawyer for the state government and its agencies.
Curran was very popular and was re-elected four times: in 1990, 1994, 1998, and 2002. He decided not to run for re-election in 2006. He felt it was time for someone new after his long career. He also wanted to avoid any possible conflicts of interest, as his son-in-law, Martin O'Malley, was running for governor at the time.
Family Life
J. Joseph Curran Jr. is married to Barbara Curran, who is a talented painter. They have four children: three daughters and one son.
One of his daughters, Katie O'Malley, became a state district court judge. She is married to Martin O'Malley, who served as the Governor of Maryland. His son, J. Joseph "Max" Curran, is also a lawyer.
Special Recognition
AARP Maryland created a special award named after J. Joseph Curran Jr. This "lifetime achievement award" honors people who have shown a lifelong dedication to helping their communities through volunteering and civic involvement.
