History of Kerry Kennedy in Timeline

Mary Kerry Kennedy is an American lawyer, author, and prominent human rights activist. As a member of the Kennedy family, she is the daughter of Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy, and niece to John F. Kennedy and Ted Kennedy. She has dedicated her life to advocating for social justice and human rights causes around the world.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

September 8, 1959: Mary Kerry Kennedy Born

On September 8, 1959, Mary Kerry Kennedy was born. She is the daughter of Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy, and is an American lawyer, author, and human rights activist.

Others born on this day/year

1968: Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy

In 1968, Kerry Kennedy's father, Robert F. Kennedy, was assassinated, marking a significant turning point in her life.

1981: Internship with Amnesty International

In 1981, Kerry Kennedy started working in the field of human rights as an intern with Amnesty International. She investigated abuses committed by U.S. immigration officials against refugees from the Salvadoran Civil War in El Salvador.

1986: Established RFK Center Partners for Human Rights

In 1986, Kerry Kennedy established the RFK Center Partners for Human Rights to protect rights codified under the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights, providing support to human rights defenders worldwide.

June 9, 1990: Married Andrew Cuomo

On June 9, 1990, Kerry Kennedy, at age 30, married Andrew Cuomo in Washington, D.C.

1995: Birth of Twins

In 1995, Kerry Kennedy-Cuomo gave birth to twins Cara Ethel Kennedy-Cuomo and Mariah Matilda Kennedy-Cuomo.

1997: Birth of Michaela Andrea Kennedy-Cuomo

In 1997, Kerry Kennedy-Cuomo gave birth to her daughter, Michaela Andrea Kennedy-Cuomo.

2001: Woman of the Year

In 2001, Kerry Kennedy was named Woman of the Year by Save the Children.

2005: Divorced Andrew Cuomo

In 2005, Kerry Kennedy and Andrew Cuomo divorced after a 15-year marriage.

2008: Received Eleanor Roosevelt Medal of Honor and Thomas More Award

In 2008, Kerry Kennedy received the Eleanor Roosevelt Medal of Honor and the Thomas More Award from Boston College Law School.

2008: Edited 'Being Catholic Now'

In 2008, Kerry Kennedy was the editor of "Being Catholic Now, Prominent Americans talk about Change in the Church and the Quest for Meaning", a book which included essays from prominent Catholics.

2009: Chevron lawsuit advocacy

In 2009, Kerry Kennedy traveled to Ecuador and advocated against Chevron in an article for the Huffington Post regarding the lawsuit against Chevron Corporation for environmental and human health damages.

2009: Received Human Rights Award

In 2009, World Vision and International AIDS Trust gave Kerry Kennedy the Human Rights Award.

February 2010: Paid for Chevron lawsuit advocacy

In February 2010, Kerry Kennedy was reportedly paid $50,000 by the plaintiffs' lead American lawyer for her advocacy against Chevron in the environmental lawsuit.

June 2010: Chevron lawsuit advocacy expenses

In June 2010, the plaintiffs' law firm budgeted $10,000 per month for Kerry Kennedy's services, plus $40,000 in expenses for her work on the Chevron lawsuit.

July 13, 2012: Found in car

On the morning of July 13, 2012, Kerry Kennedy was found in her white Lexus. A police report said Kennedy had trouble speaking, was swaying and told an officer that she may have accidentally taken a sleeping pill earlier that day.

July 2012: Car Accident

In July 2012, Kerry Kennedy allegedly sideswiped a tractor trailer on Interstate 684 in Westchester County.

July 17, 2012: Court Appearance

On July 17, 2012, Kerry Kennedy said local hospital tests found no traces of drugs and that her doctor believed she had suffered a seizure.

July 25, 2012: Toxicology Report Filed

On July 25, 2012, a toxicology report was filed which said zolpidem was found in a sample of Kerry Kennedy's blood taken when Kennedy was arrested. Kennedy said she did not remember anything after entering a highway to go to a gym and before she found herself at a traffic light with a police officer at her door.

2012: Advocacy payment made public

In 2012, it was made public that Kerry Kennedy was being paid by the Ecuadorean plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Chevron Corporation, which had not been disclosed previously.

January 23, 2014: Drugged-Driving Case to Move Forward

On January 23, 2014, Judge Robert Neary ruled that the drugged-driving case against Kerry Kennedy would move forward.

February 20, 2014: Jury Selection

On February 20, 2014, jury selection for Kerry Kennedy's trial began. Kennedy was not present, and was instead in Brussels and the Western Sahara conducting human rights advocacy.

February 28, 2014: Acquitted of Charges

On February 28, 2014, Kerry Kennedy was acquitted of the drugged-driving charges.

June 9, 2016: New York State Assembly Passed Kalief's Law

On June 9, 2016, the New York State Assembly passed Kalief's Law by a 138-2 margin, a law Kerry Kennedy campaigned for, which would have guaranteed speedy trials to defendants being held in pretrial detention.

June 21, 2017: Posted Bail for Pedro Hernandez

On June 21, 2017, Kerry Kennedy, through Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, posted the $100,000 bail for Pedro Hernandez, a 17-year-old who had spent over a year in pretrial detention at Rikers Island.

2017: Kalief's Law reintroduced

In 2017, Kalief's Law was reintroduced by State Senator Daniel L. Squadron during the 2017-2018 legislative session as S 1998-A.

2017: Speedy Trial Reform Advocacy

In 2017, Kerry Kennedy continued her advocacy for speedy trial reform in New York, emphasizing the importance of the promise of a speedy trial in a New York Daily News editorial and worked with the Katal Center for Health, Equity and Justice.

2017: Received Medal for Social Activism

In 2017, Kerry Kennedy received the Medal for Social Activism from the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Bogota, Colombia for her devotion to equal justice.

June 21, 2018: Launched 'Break Bread Not Families' Campaign

On June 21, 2018, Kerry Kennedy joined organizations to launch the 'Break Bread Not Families Immigration Fast and Prayer Chain' in response to President Trump's family separation policy.

June 23, 2018: Held Prayer Vigil in McAllen, Texas

On June 23, 2018, the 'Break Bread Not Families' campaign, of which Kerry Kennedy was a part, held a prayer vigil in McAllen, Texas, marking the start of a campaign that encouraged activists, political figures, and celebrities to fast in protest of the Trump administration's family separation policy.

October 9, 2018: Charges against Hernandez Dropped

On October 9, 2018, all remaining charges against Pedro Hernandez, for whom Kerry Kennedy posted bail, were dropped on the condition that he attend college.

2018: Kalief's Law reintroduced

In 2018, Kalief's Law was reintroduced by State Senator Daniel L. Squadron during the 2017-2018 legislative session as S 1998-A.

2018: Published "Robert F. Kennedy: Ripples of Hope"

In 2018, Kerry Kennedy published "Robert F. Kennedy: Ripples of Hope: Kerry Kennedy in Conversation with Heads of State, Business Leaders, Influencers, and Activists about Her Father's Impact on Their Lives", a book containing interviews from prominent individuals influenced by her father's legacy.