Temple University, School of Law, Juris Doctor, 1991

"At the heart of the Temple Law community is our outstanding faculty.   They blend ground-breaking scholarship with real world experience and a passion for teaching, so that students can fully grasp the power of law to change lives. Temple law professors are not content to teach from the casebook and the podium; they are here on the strength of their leadership in the real world and they are committed to addressing problems in the real world.  It is this passion – alive in our faculty, our students, and Temple lawyers everywhere – that makes Temple Law the place where law meets life."

JoAnne A. Epps, Dean 
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University of Massachusetts, Boston, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, 1988

"The University of Massachusetts Boston is nationally recognized as a model of excellence for urban public universities. The scenic waterfront campus is located next to the John F. Kennedy Library, with easy access to downtown Boston.

The second-largest campus in the UMass system, UMass Boston combines a small-college experience with the vast resources of a major research university.  With a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio, students easily interact with professors because most teaching occurs in small class sizes.  Ninety-three percent of full-time faculty hold the highest degree in their fields." (Source, University of Massachusetts Web Site).
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WORK EXPERIENCE

​EMPLOYMENT – Legal Experience (26 years)
Law Offices of Leon A. King II, attorneys and consoler at Law, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Attorney April 2008 to July 20, 2016; September 4, 2020 to present
General practice of law specializing in:
  •     civil rights - employment - criminal defense - estate administration                                                                                         City of Philadelphia, City Council, Councilman at Large Office 
Director of Legislation – April 2008 to January 2009.
  •      Responsible to execute the legislative agenda of an at large councilmanic office
               City of Philadelphia, Law Department, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Deputy City Solicitor/Labor and Employment – March 2001 to March 2002.
  •      Litigated employment discrimination and employee discipline cases for all departments
  •      Specialized in representation of the Police Department in disciplinary matters before Arbitration Panels and               the City of Philadelphia Civil Service Commission
Deputy City Solicitor/Civil Rights – May 1993 to March 2001.
  •      Represented all branches of law enforcement and the Youth Study Center
  •      Provided training at the Philadelphia Police and Prison Training Academies
  •      Represented the City in 5 class action lawsuits (jails, Youth Study Center, Courts)
  •       Litigated from initiation of complaint through jury trial numerous cases mostly in federal court
Assistant City Solicitor/Claims – September 1991 to May 1993.
  •      Litigated personal injury claims in state court before arbitration panels
               City of Philadelphia Prison System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
General Counsel - February 1997 to December 2002.
  •     Managed or facilitated in house and external legal services    Managed 6 law libraries through the System’s              paralegal 
  •     Managed 6 wardens and their facilities in compliance, and resolution of 4 complex class actions consent decrees
  •     Reviewed, drafted, created, and implemented policies and procedures
  •     Negotiated contracts
  •     Rendered legal advice and direction in all aspects of the System’s operations
  •     Created and implemented System’s Equal Employment Opportunity Unit and related training

Non-Legal Experience

Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, Division of Pre-Trial Detention
and Service, Baltimore, Maryland
Deputy Commissioner July 2016 to September 4, 2020
  •      Responsible for all operations of five jail facilities, one regional correctional infirmary and one COVID 19                       monitoring facility   
  •      Supervise three wardens, and two facility administrators, the chief of medical and behavioral health operations,       and all heads of all other operating units
  •      Coordinator for the Duvall v. Hogan Settlement Agreement
  •      Annual budget of $188,000,000
  •      20,000 admissions a year
               City of Philadelphia, Prison System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commissioner – December 2002 to January 2008.
  •      Oversaw all operations of six major pre-trial facilities and three satellites   
  •       Supervised three deputy commissioners, the chief of medical and behavioral health operations, and the                      System’s general counsel/chief of staff
  •       Responsible for an annual budget of $245,000,000
  •       36,000 admissions a year
Drexel University¸ Department of Culture and Communication, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Associate Teaching Professor of Criminal Justice, Fall, 2004 to Spring 2014
  •      Created the curriculum and provided instruction in a class that became a pre-requisite for all criminal justice             majors called “Introduction to Corrections”