Marilyn J. Mosby: 7 Things to Know About The Baltimore State’s Attorney

Just four months in office and Maryland State Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby has all eyes on her.

After announcing at a press conference on Friday that the six officers involved in the death of Freddie Gray will face criminal charges, Mosby has been hailed as a prominent leader in the fight for justice. And by the end of her speech, the 35-year-old prosecutor’s name was trending on Twitter with #MarilynMosby being used over 700,000 times. But, who is Marilyn Mosby?

1. Mosby comes from a long line of police officers. The Boston native’s mother, father, grandfather, and uncles were all cops. In fact, her grandfather was one on of the first African-American officers in Massachusetts.

“I know that the majority of police officers are really hard-working officers who are risking their lives day in and day out, but those really bad ones who go rogue do a disservice to the officers who are risking their lives and taking time away from their families,” Mosby said in a January interview with Baltimore Magazine.

2. Mosby, a graduate of Boston College Law School, joined the Baltimore City States Attorney Office and went from the District Court to the General trial division in 2011. After working as a prosecutor for six years, she ousted the incumbent State Attorney Gregg Bernstein in January – becoming the youngest state attorney in a major U.S. city.

3. Mosby’s interest in the criminal justice arose after her 17-year-old cousin was mistakenly shot and killed outside her childhood home in Boston.

“I learned very early on that the criminal justice system isn’t just the police, the judges, and the state’s attorney,” said Mosby. “It’s much more than that. I believe that we are the justice system. We, the members of the community, are the justice system because we are the victims of crimes.”

4. Mosby, who lives in Baltimore, is the wife of Councilmember Nick J. Mosby – and they have two daughters together.

“[Marilyn] turned down corporate jobs from across the country and decided to become a prosecutor, something she always wanted to do and something she did at a very high level,” her husband told the Baltimore Sun in a 2003 interview.

5. Mosby was given the title of one of the Maryland Daily Record’s 2013 Leading Women, Baltimore Magazine’s 2013 “40 Under 40”, and Baltimore Sun’s 2014 50 Women to Watch.

6. Mosby and her husband regularly organize “Enough is Enough” peace walks in West Baltimore.

7. And she’s also not afraid to be a total bada**.

“To the people of Baltimore and the demonstrators across America, I heard your call for ‘no justice, no peace,'” Mosby said during the press conference on Friday. “To the youth of this city, I will seek justice on your behalf.”

Freddie Gray, 25, died a week after sustaining a severe spine injury after being accosted by police officers on April 12. His death was followed by civil unrest in the streets of Baltimore, with people calling out for justice.

[Image via Andrew Burton/Getty Images]