Early Life and Education
Letitia Ann James was born on October 18, 1958, in Brooklyn, New York. She was one of eight children born to Nellie James and Robert James. Raised in the Park Slope neighborhood, she attended Fort Hamilton High School. James earned her Bachelor of Arts from Lehman College in 1981, majoring in liberal arts with a focus on social work. She went on to obtain her Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law in 1987 and was admitted to practice law in New York in 1989. As of 2013, she was pursuing a Master of Public Administration at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.

Early Legal Career
James began her career as a public defender for the Legal Aid Society and established the Urban Network, a coalition aimed at supporting inner-city youth through scholarships. She later served on New York Governor Mario Cuomo’s Task Force on Diversity in the Judiciary and held roles in the New York State Assembly. In 1999, she became the first Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Brooklyn regional office, focusing on consumer protection and predatory lending.

Political Career

City Council
James first ran for New York City Council in 2001 but lost narrowly. In 2003, following the assassination of Council Member James E. Davis, she won the seat representing the 35th District as a Working Families Party nominee, becoming the first third-party member elected to the council since 1977. She was re-elected in 2005 and 2009, serving on multiple committees and addressing issues like building code violations and city payroll corruption.

Public Advocate
In 2013, James ran for New York City Public Advocate and won a runoff election against Daniel Squadron. She became the first African-American woman elected to citywide office in New York City. James secured re-election in 2017 with 77% of the vote.

New York State Attorney General

Election and Tenure
James declared her candidacy for New York Attorney General in 2018, winning the Democratic primary and general election, becoming the first woman and African American elected to the position. She was re-elected in 2022.

Notable Legal Actions

• National Rifle Association (NRA): Filed a lawsuit in 2020 accusing the organization of financial misconduct. In 2024, a jury ordered NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre to pay $4.3 million for fiduciary violations.
• COVID-19 Nursing Home Investigation: Led investigations into nursing home deaths, revealing significant underreporting by the state.
• Andrew Cuomo Investigation: Released a report in 2021 detailing multiple acts of sexual harassment by Governor Andrew Cuomo.
• Trump Organization Lawsuit: Filed a civil lawsuit against Donald Trump and his organization for fraud, resulting in a $355 million fine and a three-year business operation ban in New York in 2024.

Other Initiatives and Controversies
James led investigations into NFL employment practices and faced political backlash, including the revocation of her security clearance by President Trump in 2025 and a Department of Justice lawsuit over immigration policies.

Personal Life
James resides in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, and is a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church. She has been open about her personal experiences, including having an abortion during her early political career, which she discussed publicly in 2022. James has never married.

Legacy
Throughout her career, Letitia James has broken barriers and championed legal reforms. Her tenure as Attorney General of New York has been marked by high-profile lawsuits and her dedication to consumer protection, social justice, and government accountability.