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Ebony Thompson

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Ebony Monet Thompson (born c. 1978) is an African-American lawyer from Maryland. In 2024, Thompson became the first woman and first openly gay city solicitor in the history of Baltimore's 294-year history.

Biography

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Seal of the City of Baltimore

Thompson is a native of Baltimore, Maryland.[1] She received a bachelor's degree in economics from Brown University prior to attending law school at the University of Baltimore.[2] In 2013 at age 34, Thompson graduated with a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law.[3][4] After law school, Thompson worked as a litigator at Venable LLP, where her great uncle is a partner.[5][6]

In 2022, Thompson became Baltimore deputy city solicitor.[7] That year, Mayor Brandon Scott named Thompson to replace retiring solicitor James L. Shea.[8][9] In January 2023, she became acting city solicitor, after questions arose about Thompson's qualification required for the role in the city charter.[10][11] According to the charter, Baltimore city solicitors were required to have ten years of tenure at the Maryland Bar, which Thompson was one year shy of.[12] Thompson accepted the role in an acing capacity until she could claim the full decade of service requirement.[13] In June, the city council raised Thompson's salary by 30%.[14] Later that year, Thompson and the City of Baltimore filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms after the federal agency did not respond to the city's Freedom of Information Act requests concerning firearm data.[15][16]

On January 29, 2024, Thompson was sworn in as Baltimore's city solicitor.[17][18] Thompson's appointment was unanimously confirmed by Baltimore City Council.[19] She became the first woman, and first openly gay city solicitor in Baltimore's 294-year history.[3][20]

Since becoming acting city solicitor, Thompson has been responsible for bringing lawsuits against Allergan, CVS, Cardinal Health, Walgreens and Teva Pharmaceuticals for their role in perpetuating Baltimore's opioid crisis.[21][22][23][24] As of 2025, Baltimore has received more than $600 million in restitution as a result of lawsuits Thompson brought against drug manufacturers and distributors, said to be the largest in the city's history.[25][26][27] In her role as Baltimore city solicitor, Thompson has additionally spearheaded efforts to track vacant properties in the city using blockchain technology.[28]

Personal life and honors

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Thompson is a single mother of three daughters whom she conceived via IVF.[4] In addition to her legal work, she served eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and practices karate.[29] In 2024, she received the Beacon of Justice Award in recognition for her significant impact on Maryland's LGBTQ+ community.[30]

In January 2025, Thompson was appointed grand marshal of Baltimore's Martin Luther King Jr. parade, under the theme, "Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers".[26][31]

References

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  1. ^ "Ebony M. Thompson". Maryland Daily Record. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  2. ^ Law, University of Baltimore School of (2023-03-01). "Baltimore City Solicitor Ebony Thompson, J.D. '13, Will Deliver Address at UBalt Law's 2023 Commencement". UPDATES/University of Baltimore School of Law. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  3. ^ a b "Ebony M. Thompson". Mayor Brandon M. Scott. 2023-02-02. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  4. ^ a b "Ebony Thompson Brings Serious Energy to the Role of Baltimore City Solicitor – University of Baltimore School of Law Magazine". 2024-09-03. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  5. ^ Parker, Kevin (2022-11-18). "Ebony Thompson Named Next Baltimore City Solicitor". citybiz. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  6. ^ Conarck, Ben (2023-06-05). "Cozy relationships, shadowy disclosures underlie Baltimore's $8M police consent decree". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  7. ^ Scott, Amy (2024-01-29). "Baltimore blockchain project aims to fight vacant housing". Marketplace. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  8. ^ "Ebony Thompson named next Baltimore City Solicitor | Baltimore Brew". Baltimore Brew. Archived from the original on 2024-06-13. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  9. ^ Sullivan, Emily (2022-12-30). "A new generation takes over Baltimore City's law department as Shea steps down". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  10. ^ Parker, Kevin (2022-12-02). "Ebony Thompson will Serve as Acting City Solicitor after Questions Arise About her Charter Qualification". citybiz. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  11. ^ "Ebony Thompson Confirmed as City Solicitor By Baltimore City Council". Mayor Brandon M. Scott. 2024-01-22. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  12. ^ "Lawyer named as next city solicitor appears to fall short of legal requirement". Baltimore Brew. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  13. ^ Sullivan, Emily (2022-11-30). "Ebony Thompson will initially serve as acting city solicitor when she replaces Jim Shea next year". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  14. ^ Willis, Adam (2023-06-13). "City Council approves 30% raise for Baltimore's top attorney". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  15. ^ "Baltimore Mayor Scott, City, and Everytown Law sues ATF for gun data". WMAR 2 News Baltimore. 2023-12-18. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  16. ^ Thrush, Glenn (2023-12-19). "Baltimore Sues A.T.F. Over Access to Gun Data". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  17. ^ "Ebony Thompson confirmed as Baltimore's first female solicitor". Baltimore Sun. 2024-01-22. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  18. ^ "Baltimore City's first female solicitor officially sworn into office". WEAA. 2024-01-30. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  19. ^ Konieczny, Rachel (2024-01-23). "Baltimore's new city solicitor to continue focus on blockchain technology, opioid litigation". Maryland Daily Record. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  20. ^ duffield, bill (2024-01-23). "Ebony Thompson confirmed as Baltimore's first female solicitor". Center Maryland. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  21. ^ Griffin, Ariyana (2024-09-11). "Baltimore settles with Walgreens for $80 million amid the opioid epidemic". AFRO American Newspapers. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  22. ^ "City of Baltimore Strikes $45 Million Deal with Allergan to Resolve Ongoing Opioid Litigation". Susman Godfrey L.L.P. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  23. ^ "City of Baltimore Reaches $152.5 Million Deal with Cardinal Health to Resolve Ongoing Opioid Litigation". Mayor Brandon M. Scott. 2024-08-16. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  24. ^ Pittman, Elijah (2024-08-13). "Baltimore wins another $45 million from a drug company in opioid litigation". Maryland Matters. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  25. ^ "Walgreens, Teva Pharmaceuticals settle with Baltimore in opioid lawsuit". WMAR 2 News Baltimore. 2024-09-09. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  26. ^ a b "City solicitor Ebony M. Thompson tapped as grand marshal for MLK Day parade". Yahoo News. 2025-01-08. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  27. ^ "Walgreens settles opioid case with Baltimore; three lawsuits still pending". healthexec.com. 2024-09-10. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  28. ^ Wray, Sarah (2023-12-11). "Baltimore to track vacant properties with blockchain". Cities Today. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  29. ^ "Ebony Thompson Makes History as Baltimore's First Female Solicitor". Equity Report. 2024-01-25. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  30. ^ "Ebony Thompson Receives the Beacon of Justice Award at This Year's Sunset Soirée". www.freestate-justice.org. 2024-04-29. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  31. ^ "City solicitor Ebony M. Thompson tapped as grand marshal for MLK Day parade". Capital Gazette. 2025-01-08. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
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