Hon. James E. Tierney

James E. Tierney is the former Attorney General of Maine and a Lecturer at Harvard Law School where he teaches a course on the role of state attorneys general while directing the Harvard Attorney General clinic. For thirteen years he was the Director of the National State Attorneys General Program at Columbia Law School, and he has also taught courses at Boston College Law School, Northeastern Law School and the University of Maine School of Law.

Mr. Tierney served as the Attorney General of Maine from 1980 until 1990. During his ten years as Attorney General of Maine, Mr. Tierney played an active role in the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) and has instructed newly elected state Attorneys General on the effective performance of their office. Mr. Tierney has also served as a Special Prosecutor in Florida, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Vermont and, on behalf of NAAG, has authored an analysis of the operations of state grand jury practice throughout the United States.  He travels regularly to visit in offices of attorney general where he conducts ethics seminars for incumbent attorneys general and their staffs.

Tierney has served on the Board of both the American Judicature Society and was a member of the Board of Commentators of the Courtroom Television Network. In April of 2006, Professor Tierney was selected as the Columbia Law School Public Interest Professor of the Year. This award, which is given to the faculty member or administrator who has most supported and inspired a significant portion of the public interest law student community, is selected by a vote of students.

Tierney is married to Maine author Elizabeth Strout.  He has five children and eight grandchildren.