Meet Letitia James

Since taking office in 2019, Attorney General James has focused on lowering costs for working families, ensuring bad actors that break state laws are held accountable, and protecting New Yorkers’ rights and safety. Attorney General James has secured more than $9 billion from individuals and corporations who have taken advantage of New Yorkers, including more than $3 billion from opioid manufacturers and distributors for their roles in the deadly opioid epidemic and more than $70 million in settlements from neglectful nursing homes. Under her leadership, the Office of the Attorney General has taken over 9,500 guns off New York’s streets and has worked to stop the proliferation of ghost guns that harm our communities. Attorney General James has consistently led multistate coalitions to challenge unlawful federal actions when they threatened New Yorkers’ civil rights, health care access, and the rule of law. 

Attorney General James has championed legislation in Albany to protect New York consumers, including The FAIR Business Practices Act, which cracks down on predatory lenders, abusive debt collectors, and dishonest mortgage providers. She has strengthened homeowner protections by spearheading legislation to hold deed thieves accountable. Thanks to Attorney General James’ legislative advocacy, New York is leading the nation in protecting children’s mental health online.

Prior to being elected Attorney General, Attorney General James was the Public Advocate for the City of New York. When she was elected in 2013, she became the first woman of color to hold citywide office. During her tenure as Public Advocate, Attorney General James passed more legislation than all previous public advocates combined, including a groundbreaking law that banned questions about salary history from the employment process to address the pervasive gender wage gap. 

Prior to serving as Public Advocate, Attorney General James represented the 35th Council District in her beloved Brooklyn on the New York City Council for ten years. As a council member, she passed the Safe Housing Act, legislation that forced bad landlords to improve living conditions for tenants in New York City’s worst buildings. Before her election to the City Council, Letitia James was head of the Brooklyn Regional Office of the New York State Attorney General’s Office. 

Attorney General James began her career as a public defender at the Legal Aid Society. She is a graduate of Lehman College and Howard University School of Law.