Meet Jill P. Carter
Jill P. Carter, previously appointed Director of the Office of Civil Rights & Wage Enforcement for the City of Baltimore under the administration of Mayor Catherine E. Pugh won her second term as Senator of Maryland’s 41st District, on November 8, 2022
Jill P. Carter has had a successful career championing for the marginalized and disenfranchised because it is in her DNA. Carter is the daughter of the late civil rights activist, leader, and visionary, Walter P. Carter. Carter was the third African-American female attorney elected to serve in the Maryland General Assembly as delegate for Baltimore City, Dist. 41. Former Delegate Carter, often referred to as “the legacy” embodies the spirit of her freedom fighter father.
Senator Carter has earned a reputation as a fiercely independent champion for justice, and as an unyielding voice for the voiceless and underserved. Carter has dedicated her life to the cause of justice. This is the focus of her legal and legislative careers. She served as a member of the House Judiciary Committee and chair of the Juvenile Law Sub-Committee. Carter also chaired law and justice committees for the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus and Baltimore House Delegation.
As a former Delegate, Carter single-handedly led a legislative effort that resulted in stopping the building of a $170 million youth jail in Baltimore City. Carter continues to lead the fight to stop charging youth as adults in the criminal justice system, as well as to eliminate life sentences, and de facto, life sentences for children.
Senator Carter continues to fight for law enforcement education and reform to address police brutality and killing, a tragedy that, beyond Trayvon Martin, claims the lives of unarmed Black people in America every 28 Hours, all too many in Maryland and Baltimore City. In 2014, the Maryland General Assembly passed ‘Christopher’s law’, a bill Carter sponsored named for a Maryland teen killed by an officer. The law, which took effect October 1, mandates enhanced police training on use and level of force, cultural diversity, person’s with disabilities, and life-saving skills including (CPR). Previously being the Director of the Office of Civil Rights, Carter continues the fight for Police accountability and Civilian Oversight as the Director of the Civilian Review Board, where she is proposing legislation and championing the immediate need for meaningful oversight.
While working in the Legislature, Senator Carter led the effort for constitutionally, equitable education funding for Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPSS), and the movement to stop the policy of illegal arrests in Baltimore City from 1999-2006. She advocated legislative initiatives and programs, to protect consumers, and homeowner, against predatory lending practices. She sponsored and passed groundbreaking, historic legislation on behalf of missing children, entitled “Phylicia’s Law”. She continues to champion the increase of minority business enterprise (MBE) opportunities and utilization and civil rights for children in the form of parental engagement and custodial equality.
Senator Carter was born and raised in Baltimore and attended Hilton Elementary, the GATE (gifted and talented) School, and Western High School. She later went on to Loyola University, where she earned a B.A. in English and University of Baltimore School of Law where she earned a Juris Doctor.
Senator Carter was admitted to the Maryland Bar, and is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association; Monumental City Bar Association (chair, legislative committee); Maryland Association for Justice (formerly Maryland Trial Lawyers Association).
Senator Carter is the recipient of numerous awards and honors. However, she is most proud of having the distinction of being the only legislator to receive a grade of A, multiple times, on the Report Card issued by the Baltimore NAACP.
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