Letitia James is a lawyer and politician who serves as the attorney general of New York, and she is the first Black woman ever elected to statewide office in the state. She previously held several key roles in New York City government, including serving on the City Council and as the city’s Public Advocate.

Key facts

  • Letitia Ann “Tish” James was born in Brooklyn in 1958 and grew up in a large working-class family.
  • She earned her bachelor’s degree from Lehman College and her law degree from Howard University School of Law.
  • Before elected office, she worked as a public defender and as an assistant state attorney general, focusing on consumer protection and predatory lending issues.

Political career

  • James first gained citywide prominence on the New York City Council, representing parts of Brooklyn from 2004 to 2013.
  • In 2013, she was elected New York City Public Advocate, becoming the first woman of color to hold a citywide office in New York City.
  • Her office as Public Advocate handled tens of thousands of constituent complaints and pushed through laws including a ban on asking about salary history in hiring, aimed at reducing the gender wage gap.

New York Attorney General

  • In 2018, James was elected New York Attorney General, becoming the state’s first Black attorney general and the first woman elected to that post.
  • As attorney general, she has brought high-profile cases against large corporations, opioid manufacturers, and the National Rifle Association, and has pursued major civil actions involving Donald Trump and his businesses.
  • Her work has made her a nationally known figure, praised by supporters as a tough watchdog on powerful interests and criticized by opponents who argue she uses the office aggressively against political adversaries.

Why she’s often in the news

  • James’ investigations and lawsuits against Donald Trump, the NRA, and big tech firms have kept her in national headlines, especially around major court rulings and indictments.
  • Supporters view her as a symbol of accountability and progressive enforcement, while critics accuse her of politicizing the attorney general’s office, making her a frequent subject of political debate and online forum discussions.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.