Tracy Emblem
Encyclopedia
Tracy Emblem is an attorney and was a Democratic candidate for Congress
in California
's 50th district, in North San Diego County
. Emblem ran in the 2010 Democratic Primary
but lost to Francine Busby
.
in the 1970s. As a single mother she utilized Pell Grants to put herself through school, and worked her way through law school
at National University
in San Diego, California
. Emblem now works with her husband at the Law Offices of Thor O. Emblem in Escondido, California
, where she’s lived since 1964.
for the California Attorney General’s Office
, Writs and Appeals Division. She has since practiced for roughly 20 years as a private practice attorney
, with an emphasis in appellate law and civil rights
. Over the past two decades she has researched and written over 300 writs and appeals, and argued before the Supreme Court of California
. Emblem has also served as pro-tem judge
with the San Diego courts.
Emblem has also volunteered her time to free wrongfully convicted prisoners through the California Innocence Project
. In 2004 she won the release of Kenneth Marsh, who was wrongfully convicted of murdering his girlfriend's two-year-old son when he fell off the couch and hit his head on the fireplace hearth
. Marsh spent 21 years behind bars, even though his girlfriend testified that he was innocent. Marsh and his longtime girlfriend have since married.
Emblem’s work with the California Innocence Project brought her national acclaim. Her work has been profiled on CNN’s
Larry King Live
, and led her to receive numerous awards.
of Escondido for five years as the public relations
director, where she focused on educational programs to teach children about the election process. She also served on the statewide League of Women Voters committee to update the initiative process study, and moderated ballot initiative election pros and cons forums.
Emblem also served as president of the board of directors for the Escondido Community Development Center, a non-profit organization
that provides early education and child care for low-income families.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
's 50th district, in North San Diego County
North San Diego County, California
North County is a region in the northern area of San Diego County, California. It is the second most populous region in the county after San Diego, with an estimated population of 826,985. North County is well known for its affluence, especially in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Carlsbad, Del Mar, Rancho...
. Emblem ran in the 2010 Democratic Primary
Primary
The word Primary when used alone may refer to any of the following:* Primary , the larger of two co-orbiting bodies* Primary is used for the name of the primary mirror in a telescope.* Primary , from Australia...
but lost to Francine Busby
Francine Busby
Francine Pocino Busby was the 2010 Democratic Candidate for Congress in California's 50th district, in North San Diego County. She defeated Tracy Emblem in the June primary and lost to Republican incumbent, Brian Bilbray in the general election. She was also a 2006 Democratic candidate for...
.
Personal
Through determination to improve the lives of her children, Emblem worked her way out of povertyPoverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
in the 1970s. As a single mother she utilized Pell Grants to put herself through school, and worked her way through law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
at National University
National University (California)
National University , founded in 1971, is a comprehensive, nonsectarian, independent, accredited, non-profit private university headquartered in La Jolla, California, United States, with academic degree programs offered at campuses located throughout the state, one in Henderson, Nevada, and...
in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. Emblem now works with her husband at the Law Offices of Thor O. Emblem in Escondido, California
Escondido, California
Escondido is a city occupying a shallow valley ringed by rocky hills, just north of the city of San Diego, California. Founded in 1888, it is one of the oldest cities in San Diego County. The city had a population of 143,911 at the 2010 census. Its municipal government set itself an operating...
, where she’s lived since 1964.
Legal Work
Emblem began her legal career as a law clerkLaw clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
for the California Attorney General’s Office
California Attorney General
The California Attorney General is the State Attorney General of California. The officer's duty is to ensure that "the laws of the state are uniformly and adequately enforced" The Attorney General carries out the responsibilities of the office through the California Department of Justice.The...
, Writs and Appeals Division. She has since practiced for roughly 20 years as a private practice attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, with an emphasis in appellate law and civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
. Over the past two decades she has researched and written over 300 writs and appeals, and argued before the Supreme Court of California
Supreme Court of California
The Supreme Court of California is the highest state court in California. It is headquartered in San Francisco and regularly holds sessions in Los Angeles and Sacramento. Its decisions are binding on all other California state courts.-Composition:...
. Emblem has also served as pro-tem judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
with the San Diego courts.
Emblem has also volunteered her time to free wrongfully convicted prisoners through the California Innocence Project
Innocence Project
An Innocence Project is one of a number of non-profit legal organizations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand dedicated to proving the innocence of wrongly convicted people through the use of DNA testing, and to reforming the criminal justice systems to...
. In 2004 she won the release of Kenneth Marsh, who was wrongfully convicted of murdering his girlfriend's two-year-old son when he fell off the couch and hit his head on the fireplace hearth
Hearth
In common historic and modern usage, a hearth is a brick- or stone-lined fireplace or oven often used for cooking and/or heating. For centuries, the hearth was considered an integral part of a home, often its central or most important feature...
. Marsh spent 21 years behind bars, even though his girlfriend testified that he was innocent. Marsh and his longtime girlfriend have since married.
Emblem’s work with the California Innocence Project brought her national acclaim. Her work has been profiled on CNN’s
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
Larry King Live
Larry King Live
Larry King Live is an American talk show hosted by Larry King on CNN from 1985 to 2010. It was CNN's most watched and longest-running program, with over one million viewers nightly....
, and led her to receive numerous awards.
Community Activism
Emblem served on the board of directors for the League of Women VotersLeague of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters is an American political organization founded in 1920 by Carrie Chapman Catt during the last meeting of the National American Woman Suffrage Association approximately six months before the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution gave women the right to vote...
of Escondido for five years as the public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
director, where she focused on educational programs to teach children about the election process. She also served on the statewide League of Women Voters committee to update the initiative process study, and moderated ballot initiative election pros and cons forums.
Emblem also served as president of the board of directors for the Escondido Community Development Center, a non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
that provides early education and child care for low-income families.