Letitia James

Letitia James
Born	Letitia Ann James 18 10, 1958
Birthplace	New York City, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Lawyer, politician
Title	Attorney General of New York
Known for	67th Attorney General of New York; first Black person and first Black woman to hold statewide office in New York
Education	Howard University (JD)

Letitia Ann James (born October 18, 1958), commonly known as Tish James, is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the 67th Attorney General of New York since January 1, 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, James is the first Black person to serve as New York's attorney general and the first Black woman to hold statewide office in New York State. Before assuming the attorney general's office, she served as the 4th New York City Public Advocate from 2014 to 2018, a role in which she was the first African American woman elected to citywide office in New York City. Earlier in her career, James represented the 35th district on the New York City Council from 2004 to 2013, covering Brooklyn neighborhoods including Clinton Hill, Fort Greene, parts of Crown Heights, Prospect Heights, and Bedford–Stuyvesant. Born and raised in Brooklyn, James built a career spanning public defense, legislative staff work, and state law enforcement before ascending to some of the most prominent positions in New York government. Her tenure as attorney general has been marked by high-profile civil litigation, including a fraud case against former President Donald Trump that resulted in a judgment of more than four hundred million dollars, as well as consumer protection actions and interventions in federal immigration enforcement matters. In October 2025, James was federally indicted on bank fraud charges, to which she pleaded not guilty; the case was dismissed by a federal judge the following month.

Early Life

Letitia Ann James was born on October 18, 1958, in New York City and was raised in Brooklyn. She grew up in a working-class family in the borough, which would later form the geographic and political base of her career in public service. Brooklyn's diverse and politically active neighborhoods shaped James's early interest in community advocacy and government.

Details of her childhood and family background beyond her Brooklyn upbringing are not extensively documented in available public sources. What is known is that James remained rooted in the borough throughout her formative years and into her professional life, eventually representing Brooklyn neighborhoods on the New York City Council and maintaining close ties to the communities of Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, and Bedford–Stuyvesant.

Education

James attended Lehman College, a senior college of the City University of New York (CUNY) located in the Bronx, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She subsequently enrolled at Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C., where she obtained her Juris Doctor degree. James also earned a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University in New York City. Her educational background combined legal training with public policy expertise, providing a foundation for her subsequent career in public defense, legislative work, and elected office.

James is a member of the New York State Bar, registered as an attorney with the state courts system.

Career

Early Legal and Legislative Career

After completing her law degree, James began her legal career as a public defender, representing indigent clients in the criminal justice system. She later transitioned to legislative work, serving on the staff of the New York State Assembly. James subsequently joined the New York State Attorney General's office as an Assistant Attorney General, working in the Brooklyn regional office. These positions gave her experience across multiple dimensions of the legal system — criminal defense, legislative policy, and state law enforcement — which informed her later political career.

New York City Council (2004–2013)

James was elected to the New York City Council in 2003, representing the 35th district in Brooklyn. She succeeded James Davis, who had been assassinated in City Hall in July 2003. James took office on January 1, 2004, and served for ten years until December 31, 2013. Her district encompassed the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Clinton Hill, Fort Greene, parts of Crown Heights, Prospect Heights, and Bedford–Stuyvesant.

During her time on the Council, James chaired the committees on economic development and sanitation and served on several other committees. She became an active voice on issues of development, housing, and government accountability in Brooklyn.

Atlantic Yards and Development Issues

One of the defining issues of James's Council tenure was her engagement with large-scale development projects in her district. She was involved in debates surrounding the Atlantic Yards project proposed by developer Bruce Ratner, which planned a major mixed-use development, including what would become the Barclays Center arena, in the Prospect Heights area of Brooklyn. James scrutinized aspects of the development process, including the use of eminent domain and the impact on existing residents and businesses.

James also weighed in on the City Point development in downtown Brooklyn, lending support to a lawsuit related to the project alongside fellow elected officials.

Term Limits Debate

James emerged as a notable voice in the 2008 debate over extending term limits for New York City elected officials. In October 2008, The New York Times identified her as "an emerging voice" in the term limits debate, as the City Council considered legislation that would allow Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other officeholders to seek a third term.

CityTime Scandal

James was also involved in oversight related to the CityTime payroll scandal, a major fraud case involving the city's payroll modernization project. The scandal involved hundreds of millions of dollars in overbilling, and a husband-and-wife team connected to the project fled the country amid revelations of approximately $450 million in fraud. James engaged with oversight of the fallout from the scandal, including issues related to the firing of payroll managers connected to the pay scandal.

James was succeeded on the City Council by Laurie Cumbo, who took office in January 2014.

New York City Public Advocate (2014–2018)

In 2013, James ran for the position of New York City Public Advocate, the citywide office that serves as a watchdog over city agencies and an ombudsman for residents. She received the endorsement of the Brooklyn Democratic organization, which chose her over fellow candidate Daniel Squadron. James also secured the endorsement of Reshma Saujani, among other prominent figures. Her candidacy was profiled by the New York City Campaign Finance Board.

James won the 2013 election, succeeding Bill de Blasio, who had vacated the office upon his election as Mayor of New York City. She took office as Public Advocate on January 1, 2014, becoming the first African American woman to be elected to and hold a citywide office in New York City. In this role, James served as a check on city government, investigated complaints from residents, and advocated on issues including affordable housing, consumer protection, and government transparency.

James served as Public Advocate until December 31, 2018. She was succeeded in an acting capacity by City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, and later by Jumaane Williams, who won a special election for the post.

Attorney General of New York (2019–present)

Election

In 2018, James ran for Attorney General of New York, seeking to succeed Barbara Underwood, who had been serving in an acting capacity following the resignation of Eric Schneiderman. James won the Democratic primary and the general election, becoming the 67th Attorney General of New York. She took office on January 1, 2019, serving under Governors Andrew Cuomo and, subsequently, Kathy Hochul. Her election made her the first Black person to serve as New York's attorney general and the first Black woman to hold any statewide office in New York.

Civil Fraud Case Against Donald Trump

One of the most prominent actions of James's tenure as attorney general was a civil fraud lawsuit filed against former President Donald Trump, the Trump Organization, and members of Trump's family. The suit alleged that the defendants had systematically inflated the value of assets on financial statements used to obtain favorable loan terms and other financial benefits. The case went to trial, and a court issued penalties and a fine of more than four hundred million dollars against Trump and the other defendants.

On appeal, a divided appellate court upheld Trump's liability in the case but voided the penalty as excessive. Both sides subsequently appealed the matter to the New York Court of Appeals, the state's highest court.

Consumer Protection Actions

As attorney general, James has undertaken consumer protection initiatives. In February 2026, ahead of a major snowstorm, her office issued a consumer alert warning New York consumers and businesses about price gouging. Her office also warned New Yorkers to exercise caution when hiring snow removal contractors, advising residents to hire contractors who had been in business for several years or who came recommended by trusted neighbors or friends.

Immigration and Federal Enforcement

James has also taken an active role in responding to federal immigration enforcement actions under the Trump administration. In February 2026, she announced that her office would send observers to document U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in New York, stating that staff members from her office would be dispatched to monitor enforcement operations. In February 2026, James filed an amicus brief defending New York City's sanctuary city laws after they faced a federal legal challenge.

2022 Gubernatorial Campaign

In 2021, James briefly entered the 2022 New York gubernatorial election as a candidate for Governor of New York. However, she suspended her campaign in December 2021, opting instead to seek reelection as attorney general. She was subsequently reelected to a second term as attorney general.

Federal Indictment and Dismissal (2025)

In October 2025, James was federally indicted on one count of bank fraud and one count of making false statements to a financial institution. James pleaded not guilty to the charges. On November 24, 2025, a federal judge dismissed the case, concluding that the prosecution had been conducted improperly. Following the dismissal, two additional grand juries declined to bring charges against her. James's lawyers described the government's actions as "selective and vindictive."

The legal proceedings drew additional scrutiny to the relationship between the federal government and state-level officials. In January 2026, a federal judge ruled that the Trump administration's appointee to serve as acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York, who had been involved in investigating James, was serving unlawfully and must cease operations. The judge subsequently disqualified the federal prosecutor from the investigation into James. In January 2026, it was reported that U.S. prosecutors had begun a new criminal probe into James over financial transactions, though the prior charges had already been dismissed and two grand juries had refused to indict.

Personal Life

Letitia James has maintained a relatively private personal life. She has been a long-time resident of Brooklyn, the borough where she was born and raised. She has remained closely associated with the Fort Greene and Clinton Hill neighborhoods that formed the core of her City Council district. James is not known to be married and has not publicly discussed children.

James is a member of the Democratic Party and has also been associated with the Working Families Party.

Recognition

James's election as New York City Public Advocate in 2013 made her the first African American woman elected to citywide office in New York City, a milestone noted by political observers and media outlets at the time. Her subsequent election as Attorney General of New York in 2018 made her the first Black person — and the first Black woman — to hold statewide elected office in the state of New York.

She has been recognized as an alumna of the City University of New York system through Lehman College. The civil fraud case against Donald Trump brought James significant national attention and made her one of the most widely covered state attorneys general in the country.

Legacy

Letitia James's career has been defined by a series of barrier-breaking elections in New York government. Her election to the New York City Council in 2003, her election as New York City Public Advocate in 2013, and her election as Attorney General in 2018 each represented firsts for African American women in New York politics. Her tenure as attorney general has been characterized by high-profile civil litigation, consumer protection efforts, and engagement with federal policy disputes, particularly regarding immigration enforcement.

The federal indictment and subsequent dismissal of charges against James in 2025 became a significant legal and political event, raising questions about the use of federal prosecutorial power against state officials. The dismissal of the case by a federal judge, followed by two grand juries' refusal to indict, and a separate ruling that the acting U.S. Attorney involved had been serving unlawfully, were cited by her legal team as evidence that the prosecution had been politically motivated.

As of February 2026, James continues to serve as Attorney General of New York, a position she has held since 2019.