Karen Freeman-Wilson
Encyclopedia
Karen Freeman-Wilson is an American attorney, former judge
, former Indiana Attorney General
, and currently Mayor-elect of Gary, Indiana
.
and is a graduate of Harvard Law School
.
to serve the remaining eleven months of the term of Jeff Modisett
, who resigned to become Deputy CEO and General Counsel to the Democratic National Convention
.
As the incumbent, Freeman-Wilson ran for Indiana Attorney General in 2000, but lost to Republican Steve Carter.
, a treatment for methamphetamine addiction, launched in the Gary drug court. In July 2007, Hythiam Inc., the company licensing the Prometa protocol, named Freeman-Wilson to its board of directors. Other executive posts held by Freeman-Wilson, include, Executive Director of the National Drug Court Institute and director of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission.
and Rudy Clay respectively. Given the political nature of Gary she was considered a heavy favorite in the general election
She won election to the office of Mayor of Gary with a landslide 87 percent of the vote. When she assumes office she will be the first female Mayor of Gary.
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
, former Indiana Attorney General
Indiana Attorney General
The Indiana Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of Indiana in the United States. Attorneys General are chosen by a statewide general election to serve for a four-year term...
, and currently Mayor-elect of Gary, Indiana
Gary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known...
.
Early Life and Education
Freeman-Wilson was born in Gary, IndianaGary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known...
and is a graduate of Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
.
Judge and Attorney General
She served as a presiding judge of the Gary City Court from 1995 to 2000. In 2000, she was appointed Indiana Attorney General by Governor Frank O'BannonFrank O'Bannon
Frank Lewis O'Bannon was an American politician who was the 47th Governor of Indiana from 1997 until his death in 2003.-Background:...
to serve the remaining eleven months of the term of Jeff Modisett
Jeff Modisett
Jeffrey A. Modisett is the former attorney general of the U. S. State of Indiana and county prosecuting attorney of Marion County, Indiana who has worked as an independent legal consultant and is currently a lawyer specializing in emerging high-technology companies while maintaining an...
, who resigned to become Deputy CEO and General Counsel to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
.
As the incumbent, Freeman-Wilson ran for Indiana Attorney General in 2000, but lost to Republican Steve Carter.
Post Attorney General Career
After leaving office, Freeman-Wilson went on to become CEO of the nonprofit National Association of Drug Court Professionals. While there she helped get a trial of PrometaPrometa
Prometa is a controversial treatment protocol used primarily for methamphetamine addiction, although it has also been claimed to be effective for dependence on alcohol or cocaine. The treatment, based on the research of Spanish psychologist Juan Jose Legarda, involves a combination of three...
, a treatment for methamphetamine addiction, launched in the Gary drug court. In July 2007, Hythiam Inc., the company licensing the Prometa protocol, named Freeman-Wilson to its board of directors. Other executive posts held by Freeman-Wilson, include, Executive Director of the National Drug Court Institute and director of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission.
Mayor of Gary
In May 2011, Freeman-Wilson won the Democratic mayoral primary for the city of Gary. She had previously run in both 2003 and 2007, losing to Scott L. KingScott L. King
Scott L. King was mayor of Gary, Indiana from 1996 to 2006, when he resigned. He was Gary's first white mayor since the election of Richard Hatcher in 1967. A member of the Democratic Party for most of his time in office, King left the party to become an independent in 2005, shortly before his...
and Rudy Clay respectively. Given the political nature of Gary she was considered a heavy favorite in the general election
She won election to the office of Mayor of Gary with a landslide 87 percent of the vote. When she assumes office she will be the first female Mayor of Gary.