Famed civil rights attorney Alton H. Maddox Jr. was married to Leola W. Maddox. The pair were married for many years until Leola’s death in 2017. There is no information about how they met, how long they dated and how long they were married.

They share a son together.

Despite being the wife of a popular and maybe, controversial attorney, Leola was a very private person and as a result, her personal and professional details are under wraps.

Maddox did not remarry after the death of Leola.

Born in Inkster, Michigan, and raised in Newnan, Georgia, Maddox began practicing law in 1976, after graduating from Howard University (BA, 1967) and Boston College Law School (JD, 1971).

Maddox had a lengthy legal career which included fighting for the Black community in New York City in several high profile cases.

• He represented Al Sharpton when Sharpton faced a 67-count indictment alleging fraud and theft. Sharpton was acquitted of all charges.
• He represented Michael Briscoe, a young man who was arrested during the investigation into the alleged rape of the Central Park jogger. Briscoe was found innocent in that case.
• He represented the family of Michael Stewart, a Brooklyn man who died while in custody of the New York City Transit Police and though six officers were indicted for Stewart’s death, all the officers were not found guilty. Rudy Giuliani, then US Attorney in Manhattan, found insufficient evidence to warrant a federal grand jury investigation. However, a Metropolitan Transportation Authority report later faulted police for use of excessive force.
• He also represented Tawana Brawley during the period of her rape allegations. Maddox, Al Sharpton, and C. Vernon Mason accused Assistant District Attorney Steven Pagones of abducting and raping Brawley. Pagones was not charged by the grand jury.

Maddox died on April 23, 2023 at age 77, six years after the death of Leola.