Lynne Abraham

Lynne Abraham
Born	(1941-01-31) January 31, 1941 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Lawyer, politician
Years active	1977–2017
Known for	First female district attorney of Philadelphia; longest-serving DA in Philadelphia history; vigorous pursuit of the death penalty

Lynne Marsha Abraham (born January 31, 1941) is an American lawyer who held the office of district attorney of Philadelphia from May 1991 until January 2010. She made history as the first woman to occupy this role and secured election victories on four occasions.

Abraham gained recognition for pursuing the death penalty more often than most district attorneys across the United States, which led to her being regarded as one of the nation's most formidable prosecutors. She participated in the 2015 mayoral race but was defeated in the Democratic primary.

Early life and education

Born and raised in Philadelphia in 1941, Abraham attended public schools within the city. Coming from a family of first-generation Americans, she experienced an upbringing close to economic hardship; her grandparents were European immigrants who worked as a tailor and a butcher. She completed both her undergraduate studies and earned a Juris Doctor degree at Temple University and its Beasley School of Law.

Career

Abraham’s career included serving as a legislative consultant for Philadelphia’s city council and heading the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority during Mayor Frank Rizzo’s administration. In 1977, she was elected to the Philadelphia Municipal Court, followed by election to the Court of Common Pleas in 1980, where she presided over criminal cases until her appointment as district attorney in 1991.

District Attorney

In 1991, Abraham was chosen by Philadelphia judges to succeed then-DA Ronald D. Castille, who resigned to pursue a mayoral campaign. She won the selection by a close vote of 39 to 37.

She secured a full term in 1993 and was re-elected three more times—in 1997, 2001, and 2005—defeating opponents such as R. Seth Williams, who later took over the DA position in 2010.

Her tenure as district attorney was the longest in Philadelphia’s history, during which she oversaw 108 capital convictions. Her administration, particularly prosecutor Roger King, was known for its vigorous application of the death penalty, earning her monikers like "Deadliest DA" and "Queen of Death."

In a notable case in 2007, Abraham charged William J. Barnes with murder for shooting a police officer in 1966; the officer eventually died decades later due to a urinary tract infection. Despite Barnes’ rehabilitation and previous imprisonment, Abraham aimed to establish causation between the shooting and death. Barnes was ultimately acquitted in 2010.

Post-District Attorney career

During the 2004 presidential election, Abraham acted as one of Pennsylvania’s electors, casting her vote for John Kerry. She fulfilled the same role in 2008 by voting for Barack Obama. After retiring in 2009, she was succeeded by R. Seth Williams.

Abraham ran for Mayor of Philadelphia again in 2015 but placed third in the Democratic primary. In 2017, following Williams’ resignation amid federal corruption charges, she sought appointment as interim district attorney; however, this move faced opposition from the Philadelphia NAACP.

Additionally, Abraham co-established I-LEAD Charter School located in Reading, Pennsylvania, reflecting her continued commitment to educational causes.

Personal life

Abraham was married to broadcaster Frank Ford until his passing in March 2009.

External links

• Lynne Abraham archives