J. J0SEPH CURRAN, JR.
Attorney General
(Democrat)

J. Joseph Curran, Jr., Attorney General since
1987, was born in West Palm Beach, Florida, on
July 7, 1931. He attended Baltimore parochial
schools, Loyola High School, the University of
Baltimore, and the University of Baltimore School
of Law (LL.B., 1959). Mr. Curran served in the
U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict, with
duty in Japan and Korea.
In 1986, Mr. Curran was elected Attorney
General after serving four years as Lieutenant
Governor with Governor Harry Hughes. In 1990
and 1994, he won re-election. Under Mr. Curran,
the Attorney General's Office has been a national
leader in consumer protection, criminal
investigations, Medicaid fraud prosecution,
securities regulation and antitrust enforcement.
During his tenure, for the first time in State history,
defendants have been sentenced solely for
committing environmental crimes.

In 1993-94, Mr. Curran played a leading role in
a number of controversial issues. He supported
Maryland's first workplace smoking ban, efforts to
improve judicial accountability, and legislation to
prevent criminals from profiting from their crimes.

Long a proponent of sensible gun-control laws,
Mr. Curran helped lead the successful 1986
handgun referendum to ban over-the-counter sales
of so-called Saturday-night specials in Maryland.
He continues to be a vocal leader on this issue.

In a landmark 1990 case, Maryland v. Craig,
Attorney General Curran successfully urged the
U.S. Supreme Court to uphold Maryland's law
permitting victims of child abuse to testify via

one-way television. In 1993, the Office, along with
attorneys general from other states, prevailed in the
Supreme Court in a major antitrust case against
insurance companies. Under Mr. Curran's
direction, the Criminal Investigations Division
obtained fines and restitution of more than $13
million and put behind bars 97 defendants,
including suspected or convicted drug dealers
prosecuted for not paying State taxes on their
income from drug trafficking.

Under Mr. Curran, the Attorney General's
Office is one of the country's best. Since 1986,
Maryland has been awarded more than $4.5 million
in restitution and fines from over 100 criminal
prosecutions by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit
for fraud and patient abuse. In 1992, Maryland
received national attention as the first state
successfully to prosecute a physician for criminal
neglect of nursing-home patients. The Consumer
Protection Division also has obtained several
million dollars in restitution and fines. Within the
Division, the Health Education and Advocacy Unit
alone has recovered nearly $420,000 for consumers
by resolving billing disputes, and securing medical
services from health insurance companies and
HMOs. The Securities Division has initiated about
400 disciplinary actions each year against
stockbrokers and investment advisers. The Division
also has implemented the country's most
comprehensive regulatory plan for investment
advisers. The Antitrust Division has obtained
criminal convictions of numerous persons and
businesses for rigging bids in State construction and
asbestos abatement contracts. It also thwarted a
price-fixing agreement among Baltimore area
pharmacies to raise prescription costs for HMO
subscribers. With the Attorney General's Office,
Mr. Curran established an in-house continuing
education program; encouraged assistant attorneys
general to handle pro bono cases; and has recovered
millions of dollars for the State in various cases,
including those involving the insurance and cable
industries.

Attorney General Curran began his career in
public service in 1958, elected to the House of
Delegates as a law student. In 1962, he was elected
to the State Senate. During this time, even though
his home was picketed by angry demonstrators, he
advocated open housing laws for Maryland. In
1967, Mr. Curran became chair of the Judicial
Proceedings Committee and held that position for
sixteen years.

In the General Assembly, Mr. Curran sponsored
or fought for significant bills, including those
creating the Court of Special Appeals and the
District Court system. He consistently supported
bills to improve the courts and the corrections
system, toughen drunk-driving laws, guarantee
equal rights, and require handgun permits. He also