Career Timeline of Letitia James: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Letitia James built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Letitia Ann "Tish" James is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the 67th Attorney General of New York since 2019. As a member of the Democratic Party, she made history as the first African American woman elected to this position, succeeding Barbara Underwood after winning the 2018 election. Her career has focused on law and public service within New York.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

1981: Graduation from Lehman College

In 1981, Letitia James received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Lehman College, part of the City University of New York. She majored in liberal arts with a focus on social work, marking a significant step in her education and career path.

1987: Juris Doctor degree from Howard University

In 1987, Letitia James earned her Juris Doctor degree from Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C. This marked a key milestone in her legal education and future career as a lawyer and politician.

1989: Admitted to practice law in New York State

In 1989, Letitia James was admitted to practice law in New York State. This admission was a crucial step, enabling her to begin her career as a lawyer in New York.

1999: First Assistant Attorney General in Brooklyn

In 1999, Letitia James was appointed as the first Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Brooklyn regional office. In this role, she focused on consumer complaints, especially those involving predatory lending and unlawful business practices.

November 2001: First Run for 35th Council District

In November 2001, Letitia James ran for the 35th Council district. Running on the Working Families Party line, she received 42% of the vote but lost to James E. Davis, a Democrat.

November 4, 2003: Election to the 35th Council District

On November 4, 2003, Letitia James won the election for the 35th Council district as the Working Families Party nominee, defeating Geoffrey A. Davis. This marked her entry into the New York City Council.

November 8, 2005: Re-elected to City Council

On November 8, 2005, Letitia James was re-elected to the City Council on the Democratic line, securing 88.11% of the vote. This victory solidified her position in the council.

October 10, 2006: Fire at the Broken Angel House

On October 10, 2006, a fire occurred at the Broken Angel House in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. Following the fire, Letitia James represented the owner, Arthur Wood, pro bono to help him keep his home.

2008: Advocacy Against Bloomberg's Third Term

In 2008, Letitia James, along with Bill de Blasio, advocated against Mayor Michael Bloomberg's attempts to seek a third term without a voter referendum. This demonstrated her commitment to democratic processes.

September 2009: Won Democratic primary for City Council

In September 2009, Letitia James won the Democratic primary against her opponents, Delia Hunley-Adossa and Medhanie Estiphanos, and subsequently won re-election for a second term. This victory highlighted her strong support within the Democratic party.

2011: CityTime Payroll System Irregularities

In 2011, Letitia James was the first to question cost overruns and irregularities in the subcontracting work of the CityTime payroll system. This led to indictments, Bloomberg asking for $600 million back from a tech giant, and consultants fleeing the country.

May 2013: Lawsuit Against City Point Project

In May 2013, Letitia James was part of an Article 78 lawsuit against the Bloomberg administration and Acadia Realty Trust, seeking the shut-down of the City Point real estate project and a reassessment of its environmental impact. This action demonstrated her commitment to environmental and community concerns.

October 1, 2013: Won Runoff Election for Public Advocate Nomination

On October 1, 2013, Letitia James won the runoff election against Daniel Squadron with 59.4% of the vote to become the Democratic nominee for New York City Public Advocate. This victory marked a significant step in her career.

2013: Master's Degree from Columbia University

In 2013, Letitia James earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). This achievement enhanced her expertise in public policy and administration.

June 2016: Pressure on Financial Institutions Regarding Gun Manufacturers

In June 2016, Letitia James attempted to pressure six financial institutions into ending their practice of providing financial services to gun manufacturers, including a specific request for BB&T to drop the accounts of SIG Sauer of New Hampshire, though the request was denied. This showed her stance on gun control and corporate responsibility.

2017: Won Democratic Primary for Public Advocate

In 2017, Letitia James won the Democratic primary for her position as Public Advocate with 77% of the vote, defeating her closest competitor David Eisenbach. This victory highlighted her strong support within the Democratic party.

September 13, 2018: Won Democratic Primary for Attorney General

On September 13, 2018, Letitia James won the Democratic primary for Attorney General of New York with 40.6% of the vote, defeating Zephyr Teachout and two other candidates. This victory paved the way for her historic election as Attorney General.

November 6, 2018: Elected New York Attorney General

On November 6, 2018, Letitia James was elected Attorney General of New York, defeating Republican Keith Wofford. This election made her the first woman and African American to be elected as attorney general in New York, marking a historic achievement.

January 1, 2019: Sworn in as Attorney General

On January 1, 2019, Letitia James was sworn in as the Attorney General of New York, succeeding Barbara Underwood. This marked the beginning of her term as the state's chief legal officer.

September 2019: Filed Suit Against All Faiths Cemetery

In September 2019, Letitia James filed a lawsuit against the officials of All Faiths Cemetery in Queens, alleging financial misconduct. This action demonstrated her commitment to enforcing financial regulations.

March 2020: Investigation of COVID-19 Neglect in Nursing Homes

In early March 2020, the attorney general's office began to preliminarily investigate allegations of COVID-19-related neglect of residents in nursing homes. The office received 953 complaints regarding neglect of patients through November 16.

August 2020: Filed Lawsuit Against the NRA

In August 2020, Letitia James filed a civil lawsuit against the National Rifle Association (NRA), accusing the organization of corruption and financial misconduct and calling for its dissolution. The NRA subsequently filed a countersuit against James.

January 28, 2021: Report on Nursing Home Deaths Released

On January 28, 2021, the attorney general's office released its first report on nursing homes and the state Department of Health (DOH), concluding that the department's public data under-counted nursing home deaths by up to 50 percent. Investigations into 20 separate nursing homes would continue.

August 3, 2021: Report on Cuomo Released

On August 3, 2021, Letitia James's office released a report finding that Governor Cuomo engaged in multiple acts of sexual harassment. This report led to significant political consequences for Cuomo.

October 29, 2021: James Announced Gubernatorial Campaign

On October 29, 2021, Letitia James announced her intention to run for the office of Governor of New York in the 2022 Democratic primary. However, she later withdrew from the race.

November 8, 2022: Re-elected Attorney General

On November 8, 2022, Letitia James was re-elected Attorney General, defeating Republican Michael Henry in the general election. All previous Democratic candidates withdrew their candidacies and endorsed her after she launched her reelection bid.

2022: Civil Lawsuit Against Trump Organization

In 2022, Letitia James, as New York Attorney General, filed a civil lawsuit against the Trump Organization and collaborated with the Manhattan district attorney's office in its criminal investigation. Trump alleged a political vendetta due to James's prior comments.

May 4, 2023: Investigation of NFL Employment Practices Announced

On May 4, 2023, Letitia James and California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced they would jointly investigate the National Football League over employment practices, citing a report by The New York Times detailing complaints of harassment and discrimination.

February 2024: NRA Mismanagement Lawsuit Verdict

In February 2024, a lawsuit brought by the New York Attorney General’s Office under James found that the NRA mismanaged charitable funds. The jury found that Wayne LaPierre should pay the gun rights group $4.3 million and Wilson Phillips should pay back $2 million.

February 16, 2024: Fraud Case Against Trump Successful

On February 16, 2024, Judge Arthur Engoron ruled in favor of the fraud case against Donald Trump, barring him from operating any business in New York for three years and fining him over $355 million.