BALTIMORE, MD (Monday, January 22, 2024) – Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott released the following statement after the Baltimore City Council officially confirmed Ebony Thompson as Baltimore’s City Solicitor, the first woman to be confirmed to serve in the role and the first openly gay City Solicitor to serve.

“Ebony Thompson is one of the best legal minds and most dedicated public servants that our city has to offer,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “As interim City Solicitor, she has led our Law Department with unparalleled skill, passion, and devotion to our residents. She is an invaluable member of our team, and I am beyond thrilled to continue working with her as she continues her role as our fully-confirmed City Solicitor.”

“It has been an honor to serve the City of Baltimore in this role, and I am thrilled to be able to continue on in my role, now as the fully-confirmed Baltimore City Solicitor,” said City Solicitor Ebony Thompson. “I want to extend my thanks to Mayor Scott, his entire administration, the incomparable law department staff, and the entire city for their trust in me and for this opportunity to continue to serve. It is an honor to work on behalf of the City and to fight for our residents every single day alongside this incredible team.”

Thompson, who previously served as Deputy Solicitor, assumed the lead role after former City Solicitor Jim Shea announced his retirement in January 2023 and has served in an interim capacity ever since, due to a provision in the City Charter requiring the City Solicitor to be a member of the bar for 10 years. Having now cleared that hurdle, her confirmation moved ahead and she was unanimously confirmed by the entire City Council.

Thompson joined the Solicitor’s Office two years ago. In that time, she has proven herself to be an integral member of the Scott Administration, helping to advance Mayor Scott's legislative agenda in the Maryland General Assembly, advocating  for the City in Consent Decree hearings, and representing the City in various legal proceedings, including the negotiation of numerous high-profile settlements.

Thompson has also spearheaded several innovative initiatives, recently including the use of Blockchain technology for recordation of land titles, land valuation, permit tracking and use of smart contracts to simplify the process for purchasing vacant properties and incentivizing investment in Baltimore City. 

Thompson is a graduate of Brown University, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, and the University of Baltimore School of Law.