Lynne Abraham
Encyclopedia
Lynne Abraham served as the District Attorney
of the City of Philadelphia from May 1991 to January 2010. She was the first woman to serve as Philadelphia's District Attorney. Abraham won election to that position four times. As District Attorney, she oversaw the largest district attorney's office in Pennsylvania. The office prosecutes approximately 75,000 cases every year and is the largest appellate litigator in the Commonwealth. Abraham oversaw a professional staff of 300 assistant district attorneys and 275 support staff.
for her undergraduate degree and also received her Juris Doctor
from Temple University Beasley School of Law
. She was married to Frank Ford until his death in March 2009.
during the administration of Mayor Frank Rizzo
. She was elected Judge of the Philadelphia Municipal Court in 1977, then was elected to the Court of Common Pleas in 1980, where she presided over criminal trials until she became District Attorney in 1991.
, now on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, stepped down from the post in order to run for mayor. As an incumbent, Abraham was elected to a four-year term in 1993. She was re-elected three more times; in 1997 (defeating challengers Jack McMahon and Leon Williams), 2001 (defeating challengers Alexander Talmadge and Leon Williams) and 2005 (defeating challenger Seth Williams
, who would succeed her as District Attorney five years later). In September 2006, she announced that she would not seek re-election in 2009. She held the office of District Attorney longer than anyone in Philadelphia history.
Abraham earned the nicknames "Deadliest DA" and "Queen of Death" many years ago, for the high rate at which her office sought the death penalty in past decades. In the 2004 presidential election, she served as one of Pennsylvania's electors, casting her ballot for John Kerry
. In the 2008 election, she cast her electoral ballot for Barack Obama
.
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
of the City of Philadelphia from May 1991 to January 2010. She was the first woman to serve as Philadelphia's District Attorney. Abraham won election to that position four times. As District Attorney, she oversaw the largest district attorney's office in Pennsylvania. The office prosecutes approximately 75,000 cases every year and is the largest appellate litigator in the Commonwealth. Abraham oversaw a professional staff of 300 assistant district attorneys and 275 support staff.
Early life
Lynne Abraham was born and raised in Philadelphia and educated in its public schools. She studied at Temple UniversityTemple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
for her undergraduate degree and also received her Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Temple University Beasley School of Law
Temple University Beasley School of Law
The Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law is the law school and a constituent academic unit of Temple University. Informally referred to as Temple Law School, the school is located at the Main Campus of Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Temple University James E...
. She was married to Frank Ford until his death in March 2009.
Career
Abraham is a former assistant DA. She served as a legislative consultant for the City Council of Philadelphia, where she assisted council in conducting investigations, drafted legislation, testified at public hearings, met with citizens' groups and revised portions of the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter. She served as the head of the Philadelphia Redevelopment AuthorityPhiladelphia Redevelopment Authority
The Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, with the legal name of "Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia", was created by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Urban Redevelopment Law of 1945...
during the administration of Mayor Frank Rizzo
Frank Rizzo
Francis Lazarro "Frank" Rizzo, Sr. was an American police officer and politician. He served two terms as mayor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from January 1972 to January 1980; he was Police Commissioner for four years prior to that.-Police Commissioner:Rizzo joined the Philadelphia Police...
. She was elected Judge of the Philadelphia Municipal Court in 1977, then was elected to the Court of Common Pleas in 1980, where she presided over criminal trials until she became District Attorney in 1991.
District Attorney
Abraham was elected by her fellow judges to take over as District Attorney in 1991 when then-DA Ron CastilleRonald D. Castille
Ronald D. Castille is the Chief Justice of Pennsylvania. He was the District Attorney of the City of Philadelphia from 1986 until 1991 and is a member of the Republican Party...
, now on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, stepped down from the post in order to run for mayor. As an incumbent, Abraham was elected to a four-year term in 1993. She was re-elected three more times; in 1997 (defeating challengers Jack McMahon and Leon Williams), 2001 (defeating challengers Alexander Talmadge and Leon Williams) and 2005 (defeating challenger Seth Williams
R. Seth Williams
Rufus Seth Williams is the District Attorney of the city of Philadelphia. He began his term January 4, 2010. He previously served as an Assistant District Attorney. Williams is the first African-American District Attorney in Philadelphia and in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.-Early...
, who would succeed her as District Attorney five years later). In September 2006, she announced that she would not seek re-election in 2009. She held the office of District Attorney longer than anyone in Philadelphia history.
Abraham earned the nicknames "Deadliest DA" and "Queen of Death" many years ago, for the high rate at which her office sought the death penalty in past decades. In the 2004 presidential election, she served as one of Pennsylvania's electors, casting her ballot for John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
. In the 2008 election, she cast her electoral ballot for Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
.