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Martha Coakley Born
Born to Edward & Phyllis Coakley in Pittsfield, MA; moved to North Adams one year later. -
Graduated cum laude from Williams College
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Graduated from Boston University School of Law
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Became Assistant District Attorney in Lowell, MA District Court Office
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Became Special Attorney for Boston's Organized Crime Strike Force
Invited by US Justice Dept. for position -
Returned to DA's office
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Appointed Chief of the Child Abuse Prosecution United
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Led courtroom prosecuton of Louise Woodward
Woodward, an au pair , was later convicted in shaking death of eight-month-old Matthew Eappen of Newton, MA. -
Coakley resigns to campaign for DA of Middlesex County
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Won election for MA District Attorney
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Period: to
Served as Dsitrict Attorney for Middlesex County
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Successfully lobbied to deny clemency to Gerald Amirault
Prior to this, clemency for Amirault had been recommended unanimously by the Massachusetts Parole Board in the infamous Commonwealth v. Amirault trial. -
Elected MA Attorney General as a Democrat
Defeated Republican candidate Larry Frisoli. -
Period: to
Reigning Attorney General of MA
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Testified before MA State Legislature in support of passage a "buffer zone" law
Created a 35-foot buffer around entrances and driveways of reproductive health care facilities that offer abortion services. -
Helped Apple Inc. redesign popular iTunes software to comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act
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Led 18-state coalition to urge EPA to take action in respone to '07 Supreme Court ruling in MA vs. EPA
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Settled final lawsuit of the fatal 2006 Big Dig ceiling collapse
Through eight lawsuits attached to the incident, Coakley's office recovered $610.625 million on behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. -
Coakley filed lawsuit challenging the constitutionaliy of the Defense of Marriage Act
MA was the first state to challenge this legislation. -
First candidate to take out nomination papers to run in special election for late Ted Kennedy's Senate seat
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Lost special Senate election to Republican Scott Brown
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Successfully reelected as MA Attorney General
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WCVB-TV learned of Coakley's intent to run in gubernatorial campaign
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Sworn in as the 1st woman to serve as Attorney General in MA
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Won Democratic nomination in gubernatorial race
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Western Mass. Media Consortium gubernatorial debate in downtown Springfield
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Debate between Republican Charlie Baker and Coakey in Boston
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Final debate between Coakley and Baker
