Craig J. Cornwell was appointed to the position of City Attorney on August 11, 2008, following the retirement of Legrand H. Clegg II. Mr. Cornwell joined the Compton City Attorney’s Office in 2000 as a Deputy City Attorney II and became Chief Deputy City Attorney in 2006. Mr. Cornwell’s relationship with the City of Compton began in 1996 as a founding partner with the private law firm of McClain-Hill Cornwell LLP. McClain-Hill Cornwell LLP provided legal advice and counseling to the City Attorney’s Office on various matters. Mr. Cornwell received his law degree from Whittier Law School. He received his B.A. degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Craig J. Cornwell is the son of long-time public servants, Pastor Raymond R. Cornwell and Maple J. Cornwell. Pastor Cornwell founded the Faith Chapel Baptist Church in 1956 and served as the pastor for fifty years. Maple J. Cornwell began working for the Compton Unified School District in 1956 and retired as principal of Bunche Elementary School in 2000.
A Compton resident, Cornwell is married and the father of a two and a half year old daughter (soon-to-be United States Supreme Court Justice).
