Attorney General Martha Coakley

" Good morning and welcome to exceptional women this is magic can't DO Terry in the spotlight a woman I have wanted to interview for quite some time she is an attorney. Who has made her mark trying difficult high profile cases and it's no surprise that in November 2006. This capable woman became the first female attorney general in the history of the commonwealth she is Martha -- welcome to magic thank you very much you know I'm looking at this long list of contributions to our world and the road for you has been long but from my vantage point it looks as if it's been steady I guess I need to ask you how does it feel. To be where you are right now and how do you maintain your energy level."

" Indians keep bases well -- feel pretty lucky to be -- it's a job that I think suits my talents and my interest which I think is always important and it's not a place where you know -- asked -- ten years ago or twenty years ago where I thought I would end up I would have said -- I always wanted to -- and my career is more a little bit like one job at a time you know what is -- that I'd like to do what kinds of things give -- satisfaction. And I've been lucky to have a series of jobs where have been able to do that and so you know my theory is when you do a good job with the generous and his people promote US amnesty blasted to take a different jobs so I've always focused on. Where I am what I'm doing in when Tom Riley decided he was gonna run for governor that obviously his seat was open people. You know encourage me to think about it and in so here I am and I love -- it's a great job has agreed position for a lawyer and someone in public service to have a -- impact on Massachusetts I read everything that I could find about you and I put a big pink -- next to the little known fact that you as an undergrad at Williams College where a -- and news reporter for the campus station is that -- you WC FM 91 point nine. We had a limited license and I used on Monday morning's turn the station on at 7 o'clock and I did -- morning show called morning call. Right did everything from classical music to -- pop and rock we read the news and then I started doing a classical -- but I always enjoyed radio with the there was a lot of -- did some papers on early radio in SEC hearings and thought about maybe. Having a career in radio broadcasts most even on this I had an interview the federal communications commission for job right after a law school now see here you can't there's a little known factoid about Martha Coakley and -- in the spotlight this morning. On exceptional women welcome to magic when a six point seven award winning program. Exceptional women in the spotlight Martha Coakley. Michael let's go back to your childhood in North Adams tell me about your family life and the values that shaped you you know my dad grew up in Rhode Island and married my mother right after World War II he was in the navy he'd gone to brown served in the Pacific theater. -- when he got out of the navy right after the war he did -- a lot of people did which was settled down trying forget that time period he sold insurance on a Springfield Massachusetts for awhile but then he bought part of an agency in 1954. In North Adams in he moved. There with my mother and my two older sisters at the time and we all grow up there the refined in the family five kids four girls and a boy. We all went to local schools for high school Catholic schools my dad -- his own business there and it was actually a great place to grow up. We could walk to school everybody kind of knew everybody's. You know small CDN in my down although he was not involved in politics was very involved in his business is community. Chamber of commerce Rotary Club and had a pretty high standard for us always expected to all of his daughters to get a good education. Was their golden. Then in your house when you're growing -- it was pretty much. You had to try your hardest do your best they expected this to be haven knocked it into trouble and we were pretty good kids and think more of his we were concerned about our parents' disapproval than anything else. When you were growing up did you have a role model and someone who is your biggest fans someone who believed in you it's interesting because we went to Catholic school with the sisters of Saint Joseph and there were several very. Smart and I think savvy nuns. -- very strong women who lived in their own community who have their own rules by and large and who were in fact role models not so much that. I wanted to be -- to be in on but I had a model -- women who had their own careers they had their own lies and I think in in looking back on and I think you see a lot of strong. Catholic women who grew up with that role model and so I had some favorite teacher some of whom I still stay in touch with you went to Williams College grade school very difficult to in your undergraduate degree isn't something I found to be fascinating the history of ideas tell me about why he chose that as a major. That's a good question I have always like to figure out how things work why we do what we do warehouse certain things happen at certain times in history have always been a history buff. This major which was a new program was interdisciplinary. Allowed you to take courses across a range of department -- in fact the basic studies included a history of western thought and western civilization history of science history of literature. And since then you would go on and specializing you can either take a time period which I did so I got to study -- in Greek plays in Greek history in it was really a fascinating ability to say. How did people at that time period think about. Life democracy you know everything goes back to the Greeks since it was a good foundation for me I used to be able to read Greek I cannot anymore I've lost that. But you've got to get the best professors in each department actually so was a lot of fun as you're developing as a young adult tell me what mattered TU you know I'm going back to them late sixties early 1970s such a different world. Just sort of give me a picture of your convictions year professional goals what you -- you might wanna do with your life when you're in college growing up at a time period that I guess we we're a little bit ahead of what you might call the feminist revolution I graduated from high school in 1971. So there was a lot of that happening but -- in my talent. And when I went to college as we were the first women to -- jurors freshman. I found that my ideas about things were challenged a little bit is they were male professors in male students to sit what are women doing here questions about what. Roles women play. You know I was and a cheerleader. And I I didn't particularly play sports but it became very clear to me that there were certain things that. Men did in women couldn't and I question that the some of these things didn't make sense in in a place where I was gonna get a DA like everybody else. I thought should be able to do it other people do he was an eye opener really to see how. Role models work gender base and it was an interesting time to DN a campus that was full of very smart people but also very traditional people. And you know we did a lot of work with issues around. Sex education and women's health issues for instance at a school that have been all male in his senate was really my consciousness raising -- that served me well that said look things aren't equal women are gonna have to fight for some and his but I learned early on to sort of I think find appropriate way pick your battles and it was about having choices it was about being anti mail was about making sure that women had choices for jobs in. Lives in four happiness. Good morning and welcome to exceptional women the woman whose voice you're hearing on the radio is so when you also will read about the newspapers and see on television quite often. She is the attorney general of Massachusetts Martha Coakley. And we've been looking forward to this interview for sometimes so there you are on the campus of Williams College. Tell me about your decision to go to law school I always thought about what I would do when I grew up is we talked earlier I like to radio I wrote for the school newspaper is very interested in communications but I also as I've said -- very frequently election -- Perry -- up -- it seem to me that those -- two careers we're. You know fewer good reporter you got the story you could did you know accomplish things in your own merits but likewise if you were a lawyer. And you had that training and you were successful in the courtroom you could achieve what you might want in your career without -- about a Zhu might in business you having a mentor having. The corporate structure that I think -- difficult for women to break into that certainly suited my talents I liked talking I liked arguing it was pretty good. On my feet in -- going to Catholic school we delighted beaten speech -- memorizing and all those skills that I think kids don't get now which -- is too bad because they lose out and so I had a good friend who actually went to the Columbia school of journalism. I went to law school we used to debate about whether we wanted to make the news or cover the news. And I think you know fight really go to law school then I can have those tools to be an advocate for some things that I care about -- that I think are important. I remember seeing magazines in the early 1980s we're talking about fashion in the eighties. Which of course was a catastrophe on many many levels but -- particularly for women in business in the early 1980s and I'm thinking this is when you were first in the courtroom. You know women wearing tie -- and dressing like men tell me what was the role in the courtroom when you first became an attorney brooks Brothers suit he was the female version with the absolutely the button down collar in the navy blue suit with a skirt mind you know you couldn't wear pants you had to wear a skirt but other than that it where is the famine and the version of what men -- And we all wear those little bow ties for awhile and it was part of trying to see it in an and I think we had to go through that phase because it was. Okay where women we can do this job too so we had to look the part that's changed obvious. Develop from their women have done very well by the way in terms of getting on we have come a long way baby -- particularly on illegal -- I think it made a big difference in kind -- and addresses changed also visited the beginning it was really a question of not sticking out in the courtroom nothing too obvious -- I get a chance to sit across from singers all the time and I love to ask him about the first time -- themselves in the song on the radio so for you. I would like you to describe your very first case. And how did it feel does it feel like yesterday or a million years ago where you shaking in your boots I want and now well some I've still shaken my boots you know if you ever lose that fear in the -- of your stomach when you go to trial -- it's time to change your career because it's still always a frightening experience of course. For awhile in civil practice what I would do would be to second seat somebody I would go with some voting carry the bag. So I really didn't get any of my own cases until I started doing criminal work and I remember in the mold district court having a jury impaneled and then having to give an opening. It it's not my first case remember -- images one. Early on where in it was a prosecute you have to put in all of the elements and I had a a drunk driving case in the defense counsel got up at the end of -- and with -- prosecute you didn't put in any evidence of open way my heart sunk into I'm gonna lose this case even before it gets to the jury. So I get up and made an argument and the judge thought about it finally agreed that it could code editors but I tell you in my heart was in my mouth after that and I said oh my god how could I have forgotten public way -- the attorney general and it has been quite erode from Martha -- good morning this is magic -- six point seven -- EO Terry. You're listening to exceptional women. Radio portraits of women who will inspire you you've tried some very high profile public cases I remember seeing you on TV the Louise Woodward. Trial on the shaken baby case the fells Acre case so many others. How do you stay cool when everything is swirling all around you ID tell this story when I'm asked that question and I actually saw this movie about people than usual careers. And there was a guy who was a lion Tamer and he was asked about. You know you're doing his job and there's 50000 people in the ring and -- do and he said when -- in the ring it's only Meehan a lion and worry about. And it's really very true if you're in court you've got to be focused on the judge on the jury. You forget about the camera."

" Because you have to do. And you really need to focus on the twelve people in the box that you're trying to convince that has always worked for me and I think most people who were professionals about it understand that. Regardless of how much attention your case gets -- doesn't get. Once that trial starts you focus on. Out lions do you know Martha do you feel guilt or innocence do you develop a sixth sense when you do this for a living. I think most people probably have that sense to begin with an as a lawyer what you do we sharpen your skills and doubt. Making the case. Clearly any prosecutor pass to feel that the person their charging is guilty he should be taking the case if you don't but. I have to prove it in so when you start from the basic OK we believe because the evidence tells us in because we also believe that for other reasons this person is guilty. Then you build the case. And so you know what it takes to convince somebody who maybe doesn't have the experience of the feeling the instinct you do and it's good that the system makes -- do it. Before we had grand jury's thinking could pull somebody put them in the Tower of London and say. And gonna charged with treason now I'm not gonna tell you why are -- be with the witnesses are against -- so. I'm very proud of the system of justice we have that makes us says prosecutors do our job what's the evidence and you have to prove it to twelve people beyond a reasonable doubt that's extraordinary. What roles as passion play in what you do think it plays a large one I think you have to care about this working you have to care about both. The people who you are speaking four -- we don't represented victims technically we represented the state in these cases. But you certainly work with people whose family members have been murdered her whose children have been abused and you have to have since entity for the now having said that. There are cases where you know what you may not personally click with the family -- you don't necessarily like the victims or their. They don't understand what you're doing and they don't think you're doing enough for people to do this successfully have to also be very professional. -- to be able to draw the line between the case you have to make decisions sentenced seeing other decisions based upon on the case that you represent the commonwealth not based upon. A particular report with a particular family you know you just talked about victims and horrible crimes so I need to say in the middle of a really bad trial you get my car and hang your head sometimes in and need to cry I mean it. I haven't really done that and I think some -- is that I am evil to separate out what happens in the case I've always had a strong sense of the need to. Have either in Travis family friends time off find a big believer in Tiki she wins I love to read and -- to listen to music. You'd need to be able to turn it off because if you don't. You will. Crying in the car in the annual be ineffective in the courtroom need to be able to separated I don't think we have the hardest -- the emergency room nurse at the therapist who deals with people I think that work is equally difficult you know we have a case. We make an evaluation we try it we enter into plea and then we move on and so we can either you know sort of say we've had successor we haven't. But there are other professions are -- people who deal with victims I think it's harder. -- because they don't have the kind of resolutions we duty cases. But those of you just joining us good morning you're listening to exceptional women on magic won a six point seven this is -- EO Terry in the spotlight. Martha Coakley attorney general from Massachusetts. I look at you very beautiful very petite charming still I think the girl next door. Take me back to serving on the Boston organized crime unit. And at that stage in your career did you have to be extra tough to gain respect well it is 1987. And I've worked for a little bit of time in the DA's office and I had a chance to go to work for the federal government and you know this mysterious stuff it was -- Investigations. Need to know basis -- my mother was -- he's worried about me when I started doing and I said don't worry mom it's the witnesses not the lawyers that. -- that are at risk in some of his business which unfortunately don't -- to make light of it it's true now even in in our state court cases that it is a very. Dean jurists in difficult world out there it was a very focused effort to look at people whose business was being in crime you know crime families are others too. Took payoffs were involved in gambling and it was very interesting is a different. Approach from what I did before that and -- I've done since but it was a good piece of my education about making a case focusing working two months if not years sometimes -- a couple of individuals and sometimes cases didn't know -- payoff because they were very difficult to -- you know I've had a chance to speak to many female doctors and particularly those -- sort of breaking through when there weren't a lot of doctors who were female and most of them say that they think that there's a certain -- that they bring to the table that their male counterparts may not. -- We need a woman in the spider we're gonna promote somebody is we need to. Look like we're being fair but it's been a struggle for women I think to get -- positions where you have -- where you have the ability to staff that make decisions and so I'm pleased to be here I think that I -- I think that -- points of view and work well with others say I do play well in the -- most of the time but I also have a particular spot for part -- work for instance -- the issues around kids -- think there -- a lot of younger men and women -- who -- but in my generation things were still somewhat stereotyped about who does -- You know even if both people work and and the child is sick it's the woman who has to stay home with the child thing you know Iran trying to get a new view on that. You've got a big play excellent many things to do for the state of Massachusetts what's going up on your list oh boy there's about six or seven right off the bat. You know one of the things we're most interested in is making sure that we provide health care for people mess to suspend new insurance bill. That has state work its way through in so hopefully that. Can change some of that we're concerned about energy clean and safe energy for Massachusetts. And a more -- immediate level things like food security breach at TJ acts and keeping your credit -- safe identity theft I think is on people's minds everybody distaff now with credit cards looking at the mortgage situation we play a role in trying to. Help people with bailouts if that's possible that making sure something like this doesn't happen again. We're looking at a lot of issues and cyber crime right now how we protect kids and the Internet how to protect fraud on the Internet on any given day there's probably things that are at the front of the murder. Has there been someone who has taken you by the hand and mentor to you throughout your career I have been locked in nothing at different points in my life to either seek out -- to have. The appropriate person both men and women and analysts say that in all fairness I've had a teachers along the way who have encouraged me particularly when -- passed in all of my practice I've had both men and women who it says it constructively you know that was good or -- you need to do a better and that's important -- it's not just encouragement it's that constructive criticism -- the most valuable when I thought about a job change people who have given me good advice about to do it or not to do it. I feel and I think. Again if there was one group that I really relied upon it was the women's bar one night. First graduated from law school in 1979 in the early eighties some of the more had been practicing longer deny someone my age but he was a very comforting thing to know. That there were other women doing what you did every day with whom you can do -- reality check can signal this judge said this to -- this happened -- the firm am I crazy or. In -- you know you didn't wanna go walking around -- the time with a chip on your shall there be -- that little chat you know what's this about and we also does and very positive things about pushing women to apply for -- filing amicus briefs and on issues of employment discrimination against women who is a very exciting time -- remember that the timeframe body was the attorney general the attorney general said I'm gonna make this a consumer protection office and then hire a lot of smart young women. Who might not have had the opportunities in law firms to get it. But who made their mark in his offices assistant AG's coming up in the commonwealth what is your message to all the young lawyer who may be listening to our show on Sunday morning. She's that tired assistant DA. Who has many cases and not enough hours in the day what do you wish you knew when you first got started -- oh boy -- you have to love it and make that call if you don't like would you doing you don't feel like you're learning you don't feel like you're moving ahead then maybe it's time for another job there is nothing like that opportunity to. Be in the court room in -- it's not just to get convictions I say this on my new people and Scott -- first at a time Randy said we're about getting good results if we don't have a case -- we don't think the defendants guilty of we think he should be pled than we should do that it's about getting a theories on the right result. And that's what makes the job so great defense lawyers have a tough job to do I respect what they do that their job is different their job is really to make sure that we do our job right that they. Represented a client they don't in don't need to care if their client's guilty or not -- we do. -- How to be the Tyler is to actually do it instead to get them up every week doing exercises and saying this was good this was bad I direct them to a book by Sonya Hamlin called what makes juries listen. Not unlike would you do on the radio and anybody does he need to get people's attention you need to be able to tell a story they need to be able to trust you and how do you develop the skills that to do -- I love -- couple questions to ask you that we -- every woman who sits where you are today Martha when an obstacle is in your past. How do you get around IEM usually pretty rational about it and I try and take a step back and say what is this about. In -- care. And uses something that I need to fight wars is something I can step around -- stepped over. And I think sometimes and I think it's -- both men and women sometimes -- not so gets in the way we react and I don't think that's always the solution is you know you have a personality conflict with someone -- it's not as the falling -- take a step back and get some good advice and say what's the best way to handle it I think sometimes I absolutely think it's to have both men and women we overreact we get emotional about something and then we get in our own way of being able to result. When I look teacher career I have to believe that your friends your family has been incredibly supportive of you well that's certainly true my siblings and my parents. My husband who is so long suffering husband of the unit in mrs. attorney general but he's been fabulous through this. He was a police officer used -- deputy superintendent in Cambridge. We met when I was campaigning so he certainly met me at a time when he knew I had a busy schedule. At the end of the day Martha what matters most to you two things doing a good job. And doing it with integrity the only thing worse than an incompetent lawyer without integrity as a competent lawyer without integrity because you -- do a lot of harm and so to me I always keep in mind when I'm trying to accomplish and who I represented what what we're trying to do and you know it's more important for me to do a good job to do the right thing -- to do with the popular thing. Thank you so much for being on exceptional women and congratulations thank you candy and that's exceptional women for this week. This is genetics can't DO Terry please join my radio partner gave Vernon and meet every Sunday morning at this time. For another edition of exceptional women radio portraits of women who will inspire you."