Lee Merritt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lee Merritt
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Merritt in 2024
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Stacy Sylvester Lee Merritt
February 1, 1983 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
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S. Lee Merritt (born Stacy Sylvester Lee Merritt) is an American lawyer and activist. He is well-known for his work on issues related to fairness and equal rights for all people. He often helps families who have been affected by serious events.
In March 2021, Merritt announced he would try to become the Attorney General for Texas. He said he wanted an Attorney General who would protect everyone's rights. He stopped his campaign in March 2022 and supported another candidate, Rochelle Garza.
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Early Life and Education
Lee Merritt was born on February 1, 1983, in South Central Los Angeles, California. When he was a child, his family moved to northern Florida.
He went to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, and graduated with high honors. Later, he studied law at Temple University’s James Beasley School of Law. He finished law school in 2012. While at Temple, he learned how to argue cases in court.
Career as a Lawyer
After college, Lee Merritt worked as a teacher in Camden, New Jersey. He was part of a program called Teach for America.
After law school, Merritt started his legal career at two different law firms in Philadelphia.
Later, he started his own company, the Merritt Law Firm. This firm helps people who have been treated unfairly. This includes victims of police brutality (when police use too much force), official corruption (when people in power act dishonestly), and hate crimes (crimes against someone because of their race or other group). His firm is based in Philadelphia but helps people all over the country.
Helping Deandre Harris
On August 12, 2017, a young man named Deandre Harris was attacked in a parking garage. This happened after a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Lee Merritt became Deandre Harris's lawyer to help him with the case.
Helping Jordan Edwards' Family
On April 29, 2017, a 15-year-old boy named Jordan Edwards was shot and killed by a police officer. This happened in Balch Springs, Texas. Jordan was in a car leaving a party when he was shot. Lee Merritt worked as the lawyer for Jordan Edwards' family.
Helping Marlin Gipson
Lee Merritt also represented Marlin Gipson, who was 20 years old. Marlin was arrested and charged for not identifying himself and for resisting arrest. He was giving out business cards for his lawn care service. However, he was mistakenly thought to be a suspect in some local burglaries.
Helping Atatiana Jefferson's Family
Atatiana Jefferson was shot and killed in her home by a police officer. This happened in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 12, 2019. Lee Merritt was the lawyer for Atatiana Jefferson's family in this sad case.
Helping Ahmaud Arbery's Family
Lee Merritt is currently the lawyer for the family of Ahmaud Arbery. Ahmaud was jogging in Brunswick, Georgia, on February 23, 2020. He was killed by two men who thought he looked like someone involved in local burglaries. Merritt, along with other lawyers, plans to bring this case to the United Nations. This is to highlight bigger issues of fairness and justice.
Activism Work
In 2017, Lee Merritt spoke at a conference for Black lawmakers. He was on a panel discussing the issue of mass incarceration, which means a very large number of people being in prison. Merritt said that this problem must be fixed.
After the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd in 2020, Merritt appeared on television many times. He often appeared with Ahmaud Arbery's mother. They wanted to bring attention to the bigger problems of unfair treatment in policing and in American society.
Awards and Recognition
In 2017, Lee Merritt was named No. 8 on The Root 100 list. This list honors the top 100 most important African Americans in the country between the ages of 18 and 45. His biography on the list said he was a new leader in the fight for fairness and equal rights. It also said he helps make sure people know that Black lives matter.
