Faith Jenkins: Education, Biography, and Career Journey
Faith Elizabeth Lattimore (née Jenkins), born on September 21, 1977, is an accomplished American attorney, legal commentator, and media personality. She has made significant strides in both the legal and entertainment fields, showcasing her intelligence, poise, and dedication.
Early Life and Education
Faith Jenkins was raised in Shreveport, Louisiana, where she attended C.E. Byrd High School. Her upbringing instilled in her a strong work ethic and a passion for advocacy. She pursued higher education at Louisiana Tech University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. Jenkins was the first African-American woman to win the Miss Louisiana Tech title. She topped her class at the ‘Southern University Law Center’ in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to earn a ‘Juris Doctor’ degree.
Pageant Career
Before her legal and media careers, Faith Jenkins was involved in beauty pageants and won several major titles. She got her first taste of a beauty pageant win when she won the ‘Miss Louisiana Tech University’ title at school and became the first African-American woman to do so. In 2000, she competed in and won the ‘Miss Louisiana’ title to move onto the ‘Miss America 2001’ competition. She finished as the first runner-up in that competition, but also made history by winning three awards - ‘Quality of Life’, talent and swimsuit awards. As Miss Louisiana 2000, Faith Jenkins became a distinguished young leader in America. After placing 1st runner up at Miss America 2001, Faith gained a national presence and began traveling extensively addressing important issues facing her community and our nation. She has addressed notable academic institutions, business executives, state agencies, political groups, and student organizations. Faith has served as a positive role model for thousands of young people by telling her personal story of perseverance and determination. During her year of service she spoke to students in some of the most economically depressed areas of the nation, motivating them to overcome life’s obstacles and pursue their dreams. In an effort to reach out to teens most in need of an encouraging word, Faith took her message one step further: juvenile prisons and boot camps where hundreds of young people were confined.
Faith not only placed first runner up to Miss America 2001 - she also made history. She remains the only contestant in the pageant’s history to be awarded all three of the following awards: swimsuit, talent (after singing Nancy Wilson's classic "If I Could"), and the coveted “Quality of Life” national community service award for her volunteer work in literacy and education.
Faith remains active in the Miss America Organization and judges state preliminaries every year. To date, her judging experience includes Miss Texas, Miss Mississippi, Miss Washington, Miss Virginia, Miss Maryland, Miss Kentucky, Miss Louisiana, Miss Pennsylvania, Miss New York, and Miss Kansas, among others. Faith has also judged the national Miss America Teen competition in Orlando, Florida.
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Legal Career
Jenkins commenced her legal career in the New York City office of Sidley Austin, where she worked as a litigator for five years. Her tenure at this prestigious law firm provided her with invaluable experience in complex legal matters. Judge Faith started her legal career in the New York office of Sidley Austin - one the nation’s most prestigious law firms - where she represented high-profile clients in a diverse array of complex, commercial matters. Her practice included defending class action securities fraud lawsuits, white-collar/regulatory investigations, breach of contract disputes, and other types of high-stakes litigation.
After five years as a Wall Street litigator, Faith joined the Manhattan District Attorney’s office as a criminal prosecutor. As a prosecutor, Faith handled hundreds of Manhattan cases and was the lead attorney in numerous jury trials. As a public prosecutor, she handled many criminal cases including violent crimes, robberies, narcotics, gang assaults, etc. After working at the DA’s Office for some time, she decided to go into private practice with a firm in New York that focused on white-collar defence, government investigations, and resolution of criminal and civil disputes. Faith became known among her colleagues, judges, jurors, and court staff as a tough, but fair trial attorney. Judge Faith’s legal career spanned over a decade in New York -- from working as a wall street litigator, to New York family court to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office where she prosecuted cases.
Media Career
During 2012, she started making appearances as a legal analyst on several news channels giving her legal opinion on the various stages of the high-profile ‘Florida v. Zimmerman’ trial. She was seen almost daily on all major news channel shows, especially ‘Politics Nation’, during the entire period of the trial. She soon became a recognized face on television and started to appear as a legal analyst on various news network shows like ‘Happening Now’, ‘Hannity’, ‘Fox & Friends’, ‘Studio B with Shepard Smith’, and more. Simultaneously, she also started forging an alternate career path in the print media, giving her opinion on current events in editorial columns of publications like ‘Daily News’ in New York City. She has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News Channel and Fox Business Channel as a legal analyst, on shows including Fox & Friends, The O'Reilly Factor, Hannity, Politics Nation with Rev. Al Sharpton, Studio B with Shepard Smith, Happening Now, Lou Dobbs Forum, Your World with Neil Cavuto, and Willis Report, as well as truTV's In Session.
In March 2014, Jenkins joined MSNBC as a legal analyst, offering insightful commentary on high-profile legal issues and cases. Her articulate analysis and on-screen presence led to further opportunities in television. In March 2014, she became a legal analyst for the ‘MSNBC’ network, and continued her career as a legal and social commentator for the channel. Later that year, she became the arbitrator of her own courtroom show, “Judge Faith,” where she adjudicated small claims cases with a blend of legal acumen and compassion. Soon after, in May, she bagged her own nationally syndicated courtroom-based arbitration show called ‘Judge Faith’. The show made its debut in September 2014 and featured her as a courtroom judge listening to and delivering judgment on cases brought before her. The show ran for three seasons and enjoyed much popularity due to her no-nonsense style of justice that she delivered with kindness and compassion. From 2020 to 2022, Jenkins was the presiding judge on Divorce Court. She is now at the helm of the longest running court show on TV - Divorce Court - where she helps couples resolve their personal & legal disputes with her tough love approach.
Beyond “Judge Faith,” Jenkins hosted the true-crime documentary series “Justice By Any Means,” which premiered on TV One in December 2015. The series highlighted stories of individuals seeking justice against overwhelming odds. In December 2015, she hosted a crime documentary series called ‘Justice By Any Means’. After the end of her courtoom show, she continued to work in the entertainment business, appearing as a panelist on talk shows like ‘The Meredith Vieira Show’, ‘The Wendy Williams Show’, and appearances on shows like ‘Hollywood Today Live’, ‘The Willis Report’, etc. Judge Faith continues to provide legal and social commentary on television. Prior to signing as a legal analyst exclusively with MSNBC, she has appeared regularly on CNN, Fox News, and HLN to analyze the nation’s most high profile cases and legal issues. During the George Zimmerman trial in Florida, Faith analyzed the trial daily on all three major news networks. She appeared nightly - from jury selection to verdict - on MSNBC’s PoliticsNation to discuss witness testimony and opine on the trial’s overall progress each day.
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In recent years, Jenkins has continued to expand her television presence. She currently hosts “Killer Relationship with Faith Jenkins,” a series that delves into the dark side of romantic relationships, exploring cases where love turned lethal.
Personal Life
In March 2020, Faith Jenkins married renowned musician Kenny Lattimore in a beautiful ceremony held in Los Angeles. Kenneth Lee Lattimore (born April 10, 1970) is an American R&B singer known for his smooth, soulful voice and romantic ballads. He rose to prominence in the mid-1990s with the release of his self-titled album, Kenny Lattimore. The couple’s union has been celebrated by fans and the media alike, often highlighting their mutual support and shared values. In August 2022, they announced that they were expecting their first child. In January 2023, they welcomed their first child, a daughter named Skylar Leigh Lattimore.
Achievements and Recognition
Faith Jenkins has consistently expressed her deep passion for justice and advocacy, which has been a guiding force throughout her career, whether in the courtroom or on television.
During the Miss America 2001 pageant, Jenkins impressed audiences and judges with her intelligence, poise, and eloquence. She was the first African-American woman to win the Miss Louisiana Tech title.
Legacy and Influence
Faith Jenkins is a strong advocate for community service and philanthropy. Her contributions to various causes, particularly those that promote education and justice, have been significant. Through her work in television and law, Jenkins has inspired countless individuals to pursue their dreams with determination and resilience. Her legacy is not only marked by her professional accomplishments but also by her efforts to use her platform to educate and uplift others.
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Faith Jenkins remains an icon of empowerment, intelligence, and resilience. Her influence extends beyond the screen, as she regularly speaks at events, panels, and conferences, sharing her insights on law, media, and personal development.
Net Worth
As of 2024, Faith Jenkins’ net worth is estimated to be around $2 million. Her income is primarily derived from her television appearances, legal commentary, and previous legal practice.
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