Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

J. Joseph Curran, Jr.
MSA SC 3520-1493

Biography:

Born in West Palm Beach, Florida, July 7, 1931.  Attended Baltimore parochial schools; Loyola High School; University of Baltimore; University of Baltimore School of Law, LL.B., 1959.  Admitted to the Maryland Bar, 1959.  Married; five children: Mary Carole, Alice, Catherine, J. Joseph, III (Max), and William.

Attorney General, 1987 to January 2, 2007. Member, Governor's Executive Council, 1987-2007; State's Attorneys' Coordination Council, 1987-92; Governor's Advisory Board for Justice Administration (formerly Governor's Advisory Board for Justice Assistance), 1987-95; Board of State Canvassers, 1987-2007; Commission on Correctional Standards, 1987-2007; Correctional Training Commission, 1987-2007; Criminal Justice Information Advisory Board, 1987-2007; Police Training Commission, 1987-2007; Maryland State Employees Surety Bond Committee, 1987-2007; State Prosecutor Selection and Disabilities Commission, 1987-2007; Governor's Drug and Alcohol Abuse Commission, 1989-95. Chair, State Board of Victim Services, 1988-92 (member, 1995-2007). Member, Governor's Commission on Adoption, 1995; Task Force to Study Anti-Asian Violence, 1995-98. Co-Chair, Family Violence Council, 1995-2005. Member, Cabinet Council on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, 1995-2005; Governor's Task Force on Children, Youth, and Families Systems Reform, 1996; Maryland Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy, 1996-99; Commission to Review Landlord-Tenant Laws, 1998; Maryland Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission, 1998-2001; Commission on Juvenile Justice Jurisdiction, 1998-2001. Honorary Co-Chair, Task Force to Conquer Cancer in Maryland, 1999; Task Force to End Smoking in Maryland, 1999. Member, Safe Schools Interagency Steering Committee, 1999-2002; State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy, 1999-2007; Forensic Sciences Task Force, 2000-01; Task Force on Gasoline Zone-Pricing in Maryland, 2000-01; Advisory Board, Maryland Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office, 2001-07; Baltimore City Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, 2002-07.

Lieutenant Governor, 1983-87. Member, Governor's Executive Council, 1983-87. Chair, Committee to Study Flexibility for Higher Education, 1983-84. Member, State Development Council, 1983-84. Chair, Task Force on the Drinking Driver, 1983-86. Vice-Chair, Maryland Council on the Economy, Environment, and Energy Production, 1983-87. Chair, Task Force on Victims' Services, 1984-85; Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, 1984-87; Liability Insurance Task Force, 1985. Member, Joint Executive-Legislative Task Force on Medical Malpractice Insurance, 1985; Task Force on Mentally Ill Offenders, 1985-86. Chair, State Trade Policy Council, 1985-87; Governor's Oversight Committee on Liability Insurance, 1986.

Member, State Senate, 1963-83. Chair, Public Utilities Committee, 1963-66. Member, Banking and Insurance Committee; City Senators Committee; Education Committee (vice-chair); Executive Nominations Committee; Judicial Proceedings Committee; Motor Vehicles Committee; Veterans and Civil Defense Committee; Committee on Taxation and Fiscal Matters, 1965; Legislative Liaison Committee for the Constitutional Convention, 1967-68; Rules Committee, 1967-74; Legislative Policy Committee (formerly Legislative Council), 1967-83. Chair, Judicial Proceedings Committee, 1967-83.

Vice-Chair, Maryland Higher Education Loan Corporation, 1963-92. Member, Maryland Cuban Refugee Resettlement Committee, 1963-65; Regional Planning Council, 1963-83; Maryland Highway Safety Coordinating Committee, 1972-83; Governor's Commission to Study Sovereign Immunity, 1975-76; Task Force to Study Circuit Court Unification, 1976-77; Task Force on Crime, 1976-77; Governor's Commission on Domestic Relations Laws, 1976-86; Task Force on Public Safety and Correctional Services, 1980; Commission to Study the Judicial Branch of Government, 1981-82. Chair, Task Force to Review the Defense of Insanity, 1982-85.

Member, House of Delegates, 1959-63. Member, Banking, Insurance and Social Security Committee; Education Committee.

Member, Maryland State Bar Association. Delegate, Democratic Party National Convention, 1992, 1996, 2000. Board of Trustees, Baltimore City Historical Society, 2002-. Distinguished Service Award, Mental Health Association of Maryland, 1989. Special Achievement Award, Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, 1989. Pro Bono Award, Maryland's Volunteer Lawyers Service, 1990. Elected Official of the Year, Young Democrats of Maryland, 1990. Achievement Award, American Cancer Society, 1991, 1995. Award of Appreciation, State Board of Victim Services, 1992. Certificate of Appreciation, House of Ruth, 1995, 1997. Lawmaker of the Year, American Heart Association, 1995-96. Advocate of the Year Award, Smoke Free Maryland, 1997. Jack Lodge Award (commitment to protecting Maryland's citizens from the tobacco industry), 1997. Outstanding Leadership Award, Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence, 1997. Breath of Life Award, American Lung Association of Maryland, 1999. Robert C. Heeney Award, Criminal Law Section, Maryland State Bar Association, 2003. Chesapeake Champion Award, Waterkeeper Alliance, 2005. Kelley-Wyman Memorial Award, National Association of Attorneys General, 2006. Lifetime Achievement Award, Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition, Inc., 2006. Access to Justice Award, Women's Law Center of Maryland, 2006. Hopeline Law Enforcement Partnership Award, Verizon Wireless, and Verizon Foundation, 2006. First Citizen Award, 2007.

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