СÀ¶ÊÓƵ

Professor Towns currently serves as a Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights & Elder Justice Section (CREJS) of the Public Advocacy Division (PAD) at the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia (OAG). Tony is a trial lawyer in the civil rights portion of CREJS and brings affirmative cases against persons and entities that exhibit a pattern or practice of discrimination against District of Columbia residents. During his 15-year tenure at OAG, Tony has also served as the Director of Community Engagement, a member of the OAG Immediate Office & Senior Staff. In that position he developed relationships with advisory neighborhood commissions, civic associations, neighborhood associations, the DC City Council and other community – based organizations. Tony was also instrumental in forming the Attorney General’s Business Advisory, Faith Based, Juvenile Justice-Non-profit Advisory and Law Firm Advisory Committees.

Professor Towns has also served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Division, defending the District of Columbia in tort and constitutional claims in both Superior and District Courts; While at OAG Tony was awarded the Special Act or Service Award in 2012 and 2019 for his work on the Georgetown Public Library case – 2012 and for coordinating a series of community listening sessions geared towards developing OAG’s first civil rights action plan - 2019. In 2022, Tony received the Distinguished Service Award as a member of the trial team that prosecuted a source of income discrimination case against a property management company — resulting in the largest penalty award in a housing discrimination case in United States History (10 Million). Throughout his legal career Tony has mentored many law students and lawyers either through trying cases with them, coaching the trial advocacy team at Howard University School of Law, teaching trial advocacy through the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Tony Talks at OAG and as a faculty member of the National Association of Attorney General’s training program designed to teach trial advocacy at the AG’s offices nationwide.

Professor Towns has been a loyal member of the Washington Bar Association and has served as a Board member, Vice President, and President-Elect and President of the organization. In 2020, Tony received the WBA Young Lawyers Division’s "George E.C. Hayes Memorial Award" given to a member of legal profession who participates in the development of junior attorneys through active involvement and display of legal ethics, standards, and skill. During the Bar year 2020-2021, Tony served as the President & CEO of the Washington Bar Association, (WBA) which was originally formed in 1925 and is currently one of the largest minority bar associations in the country. During his tenure as President of the WBA, the organization participated in the national John Lewis Voter awareness marches and motorcades, fought for DC Statehood, and much more. In 2023, Tony was awarded the WBA President’s Legacy Award for contributions towards the overall success of the organization.

Prior to working at OAG, Professor Towns worked as a civil trial lawyer in the law firm of Jones & Towns, PLLC., In-House Counsel for the Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, and as an Associate at Carr Goodson & Lee, P.C. Professor Towns began his legal career as a judicial law clerk to then Superior Court Judge Reggie B. Walton, and as an Attorney Advisor in the Executive Office of the President, Office of National Drug Control Policy.