Leo Terrell: Education, Career, and Impact

Leo James Terrell, born on February 1, 1955, is an American civil rights attorney, talk radio host, and media personality based in Los Angeles, California. He is known for his legal and political commentary, particularly on Fox News programs, and his outspoken conservative views.

Early Life and Education

Terrell's journey began in Los Angeles, California, where he was raised by his parents. He attended Gardena High School in Harbor Gateway, Los Angeles, graduating in 1972. During his time at Gardena High, Terrell was actively involved in student leadership, serving as the student body president.

Terrell pursued higher education at California State University, Dominguez Hills, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1977. He furthered his academic pursuits at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, obtaining a Master of Education degree. Terrell completed his formal education with a Juris Doctor degree from UCLA School of Law.

Early Career

Before embarking on his legal career, Terrell dedicated himself to education, teaching high school history, geography, and economics at Gage Middle School in Huntington Park, California. This experience laid the foundation for his later work in law and civil rights advocacy.

Legal Career

Terrell became a member of the California Bar on December 4, 1990, marking the official start of his legal practice. As a practicing member of the California Bar since 1990, he has held numerous leadership positions at organizations including the Black-Korean Alliance, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and California’s Statewide Commission Against Hate Crimes. He initially focused on civil rights cases, representing clients in employment discrimination and other civil rights matters.

Notable Cases

In 1995, Terrell represented Kumasi Simmons, a former football player from Centennial High School in Compton who was expelled for hitting a referee. Simmons claimed the referee used offensive language, and Terrell advocated for his client's rights.

Media Career

Terrell's media career began in 1996 when he co-hosted the weekday talk show "Terrell & Katz" with former Los Angeles Superior Court judge Burton Katz on KMPC radio in Los Angeles. The show debuted on June 3, 1996, and featured a "point-counterpoint" format, providing listeners with diverse perspectives on legal and social issues. Later, "Terrell & Katz" moved to weekends on KABC starting October 5, 1996. Terrell continued to host a legal show on KABC on weekends until August 15, 2010. He also often filled in as a guest host for KABC's "The Peter Tilden Show."

Television Appearances

Throughout his career, Terrell has provided expert legal and civil rights commentary across a number of prominent television programs, including ABC’s Nightline, CNN’s Larry King Live and NBC’s Today, Hannity and The O'Reilly Factor. He has offered legal and political commentary on TV and radio programs such as Nightline, Larry King Live, Hannity & Colmes, The O'Reilly Factor, Today, and Good Morning America, providing insights into current events and legal matters. A family friend of O. J. Simpson, Terrell also gave expert legal comments about a famous civil trial involving O. J. Simpson.

Current Roles

In addition to his role with FOX News Media, Mr. Terrell will continue to host his Cumulus Media podcast, “Leo Terrell: America’s Fair Minded Civil Rights Attorney.” Terrell is currently a regular guest, host, and contributor on some of Fox News’ most-watched programs such as: Hannity, Justice With Judge Jeanine, The Dan Bongino Show, and more. In 2021, Leo once again began hosting on KABC Radio, with his new show called ‘LEO 2.0’ at 5pm and contributed to The Big Saturday Show.

Political Views and Affiliations

Terrell was a lifelong Democrat until July 17, 2020, when he announced his support for then-President Donald Trump on Fox News' "Hannity" show. This marked the first time he supported a Republican candidate for president. Terrell cited Joe Biden's assumption that all Black voters must vote Democrat and the Democrats' stance on defunding the police as his reasons for leaving the Democratic Party.

Controversies and Statements

Terrell's political views and statements have sometimes sparked controversy. In May 2025, he drew media attention after suggesting that former First Lady Jill Biden should face criminal charges for "elder abuse," arguing that she was aware of President Joe Biden’s health issues yet remained silent during his reelection campaign. Terrell reiterated his stance in a series of posts on X, including one that read, "Elder Abuse!"

Some of Leo Terrell’s most amazing quotes include: “Let me be as clear as possible: I, as a black man, as an American, do not support Black Lives Matter. Why? Very simple. Black Lives Matter doesn’t care about all black lives.” “They [BLM - black lives matter] don’t even know what it means. I know what it means. This is not 1960. You got Democratic cities - Chicago, Atlanta, LA - run by Democrats, run by people of color. There’s chaos in those cities and they’re calling [it] ‘systemic discrimination.’ They need to look in the mirror. This is not 1960. This is not Bull Connor. This is not German Shepherds chasing black folks down the street and yet they play this game of using a word, a term, a phrase that does not apply in 2020." "Ninety-eight percent of all police officers are good. Get rid of two percent but not the entire police force, and I think that Black Lives Matter has hijacked this entire issue, and now we’re talking about taking down monuments, taking down statues, we’re talking about painting streets. None of that goes to police reform and changing the system within the system." "They’re so hell-bent on defeating Trump, they’ll vote for anyone. I can’t ignore or dismiss logic.” "Joe Biden is an empty suit being hijacked by extremists on the left. That’s why I’m not part of the Democratic Party in 2020.”

Community Involvement and Recognition

Terrell has been involved in various community organizations, including the Black-Korean Alliance and the NAACP. He joined the NAACP in 1990 and did pro bono legal work for the organization. After Terrell expressed support for Carolyn Kuhl, a Los Angeles County judge nominated by President George W. Senate, he left the NAACP and accused the organization of "bullying" him out. NAACP Washington, D.C. office director Hilary O. Shelton responded: "He’s not an NAACP lawyer, not even a former NAACP lawyer. He’s done volunteer work for us, which we appreciate. He also served on California’s Statewide Commission Against Hate Crimes and as an Advisory Board Member for the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission).

Published Work

In 1998, Terrell released his book ‘KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AT THE WORKPLACE - The Things Your Boss Won’t Tell You’.

Nomination

On January 21, 2025, Terrell was nominated as Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.

Electoral Attempts

In 2003, Terrell ran for a seat on the Los Angeles City Council.

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