Letitia James facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Letitia James
|
|
|---|---|
James in 2020
|
|
| 67th Attorney General of New York | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2019 |
|
| Governor | Andrew Cuomo Kathy Hochul |
| Preceded by | Barbara Underwood |
| 4th New York City Public Advocate | |
| In office January 1, 2014 – December 31, 2018 |
|
| Preceded by | Bill de Blasio |
| Succeeded by | Corey Johnson Jumaane Williams (acting) |
| Member of the New York City Council from the 35th district |
|
| In office January 1, 2004 – December 31, 2013 |
|
| Preceded by | James E. Davis |
| Succeeded by | Laurie Cumbo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 18, 1958 New York City, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Lehman College (BA) Howard University (JD) Columbia University (MPA) |
Letitia Ann James (born October 18, 1958) is an American lawyer and politician. Since 2019, she has been the Attorney General of New York. This means she is the chief legal officer for the state of New York. She was elected in 2018.
Letitia James is a member of the Democratic Party. She made history by becoming the first African American and the first woman to be elected to this important role in New York.
She was born and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. She studied at Lehman College and then earned her law degree from Howard University. Before becoming Attorney General, she worked as a lawyer helping people who couldn't afford legal help. She also worked for the New York State government.
From 2004 to 2013, James was a member of the New York City Council. She represented parts of Brooklyn, like Clinton Hill and Fort Greene. She worked on committees dealing with economic development and sanitation. After that, from 2013 to 2018, she served as the New York City Public Advocate. This made her the first African-American woman to hold a citywide elected office in New York City.
In 2021, James briefly considered running for governor of New York. However, she later decided to run for re-election as Attorney General instead.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Letitia Ann James was born on October 18, 1958, in Brooklyn, New York. She was one of eight children. Her parents were Nellie and Robert James. She went to public schools in New York City. She grew up in Park Slope, Brooklyn and went to Fort Hamilton High School.
In 1981, she earned her bachelor's degree from Lehman College. She studied liberal arts with a focus on social work. Later, she received her law degree, called a J.D., from Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C.. She was allowed to practice law in New York State in 1989. In 2013, she also earned a master's degree in Public Administration from Columbia University.
Political Career and Public Service
Letitia James started her career helping people. She worked as a public defender for the Legal Aid Society. This means she provided legal help to people who couldn't afford a lawyer. She also started a group called the Urban Network. This group helped inner-city youth get scholarships for their education.
She worked for former New York Governor Mario Cuomo. She also served as a legal advisor for other politicians in the New York State Assembly. In 1999, she became the first Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Brooklyn office. In this role, she focused on helping people with consumer complaints. This included issues like unfair lending practices.
Serving on the City Council
James first ran for the New York City Council in 2001. She ran again in 2003 and won, becoming a member of the Working Families Party. She was the first person from this party to win a citywide office in New York City. She later rejoined the Democratic Party.
She was re-elected to the City Council in 2005 and 2009. During her time on the council, she worked on many important issues. For example, she questioned the high costs of a new city payroll system. This led to investigations and helped save money for the city. She also worked to preserve historic buildings in Brooklyn.
Becoming Public Advocate
In 2013, James ran for New York City Public Advocate. This role is like a watchdog for the city. The Public Advocate makes sure the government is working for its citizens. She won the election and became the Democratic Party's nominee. She won the general election with over 83% of the votes.
In 2017, she was re-elected as Public Advocate. She continued to advocate for New Yorkers. For example, she tried to convince banks to stop providing services to gun manufacturers.
New York State Attorney General
Election and First Term
In 2018, Letitia James decided to run for Attorney General of New York. She won the Democratic primary election. On November 6, 2018, she was elected Attorney General. This was a historic moment, as she became the first woman and first African American to hold this position in New York. She took office on January 1, 2019.
_(1).jpg)
As Attorney General, James has taken on many important cases. In 2019, she sued officials at Queens's All Faiths Cemetery. She claimed they had mismanaged money.
In 2020, she filed a lawsuit against the National Rifle Association of America (NRA). She accused the organization of corruption and misusing its funds. In 2024, a jury found that the NRA's former CEO had misused millions of dollars. The jury ordered him to pay back a large sum of money.
Re-election and Recent Work
In 2021, James briefly considered running for Governor of New York. However, she decided to seek re-election as Attorney General instead. She won re-election in November 2022.
In 2023, James and California's Attorney General started an investigation into the National Football League (NFL). They were looking into complaints of harassment and discrimination against former female employees.
In 2022, James also filed a civil lawsuit against the Trump Organization. This lawsuit claimed that the organization had committed fraud. In February 2024, a judge ruled that the former president, Donald Trump, and his company had committed fraud. The judge ordered them to pay a large fine and limited Trump's ability to do business in New York for three years.
Personal Life
Letitia James lives in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn. She is a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church. She has never married.
Images for kids
-
James in the New York City Council in 2009
See also
In Spanish: Letitia James para niños
- List of female state attorneys general in the United States
