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Home · News

11 Things To Know About Attorney General Loretta Lynch

She's a preacher's daughter who decided to practice law to help defend civil rights. Get to know more about our U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

By Jolie A. Doggett · March 11, 2015October 27, 2020
01
She’s a Southern Gal

Loretta Lynch was born in Greensboro, North Carolina and attended Durham High School in Durham, North Carolina. Lynch (far right) is the second of three children and the only girl. She has an older brother Lorenzo Lynch, Jr., and a younger brother, Leonzo Lynch. [Washington Post]

Washington Post
02
She’s a Preacher’s Kid

Lynch comes from a long line of preachers. Her father, Rev. Lorenzo Lynch, is a retired fourth generation Baptist minister. Her mother, Lorine Lynch, was a school librarian. They both encouraged her to  pursue an education and to follow her dreams. []

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03
She Decided to Practice Law to Help Defend Civil Rights

Lynch became inspired to practice law after watching her grandfather help Blacks flee the Jim Crow South and move up North. “I realized the power the law had over your life and how important it was that the people who wield that power look to each situation with a sense of fairness and evenhandedness,” she said.

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04
She’s an Ivy League Graduate

Lynch turned down a full scholarship for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to attend Harvard. She graduated cum laude from Harvard College in 1981 where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in English and American Literature. She later received her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Harvard Law School in 1984.

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05
She Used To Be a Cheerleader

Lynch was quite the well-rounded student. In high school, she was president of the literary club, director of the senior class play and worked at a local fast food restaurant in her spare time. She even joined the cheerleading squad when she went to college. Go, Loretta! [Washington Post]

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06
She’s a Charter Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

While attending Harvard College, Lynch helped charter the university’s first Black sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. 

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07
She Oversaw a Landmark Case Against Police Brutality

As a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York, Lynch oversaw the prosecution team in the civil rights case of Abner Louima, a Haitian immigrant who was beaten and sexually assaulted by Brooklyn police officers. “I was extremely proud to be a part of that team,” she said. The officers were convicted and are serving up to 30 years in jail.

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08
She’s Happily Married

Lynch met her husband Stephen Hargrove when she began her partnership at Hogan and Hartson law firm (now Hogan Lovells). They’ve been married since 2007 and together, they’re raising two children from Hargrove’s previous marriage. [Washington Post]

Washington Post
09
She’s Worked Pro-bono for the Rwandan Genocide Prosecution

Lynch worked pro-bono for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, an organization established to prosecute those responsible for the1994 genocide in that country. Lynch calls her involvement “her most gratifying work.”

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10
She’s a Recreational Tennis Player

What does the future U.S. Attorney General do for fun and relaxation? She plays tennis! Loretta Lynch tells The Network Journal that she loves to play tennis to de-stress. She also relaxes by spending time with her husband and two stepchildren. 

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11
She is the First Black Woman Attorney General

Lynch, 55, is the first African-American woman in history to serve as U.S. Attorney General. She was sworn in using Frederick Douglass’ bible and with the support of President Obama and Former Attorney General Eric Holder himself, who recommended Lynch as his successor when he announced that he was stepping down last September.

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