The City of Grand Prairie has named Maleshia McGinnis as the new head legal eagle, taking the helm as the city's City Attorney. McGinnis was officially appointed to her new role at the City Council meeting on January 9, according to the City of Grand Prairie, Texas.
Boasting over 22 years of experience in municipal law, McGinnis is no stranger to the intricacies of city governance. Before landing the Grand Prairie gig, she held court as the City Attorney for North Richland Hills starting in 2016, where she was chief legal advisor to various city departments and commissions. Her extensive legal background includes nearly 15 years in Fort Worth’s City Attorney’s office, where she rose through the ranks from Prosecutor to Sr. Assistant City Attorney/Section Chief. While at it, McGinnis was also the head honcho of the General Services Section and played a crucial role in advising the city’s economic development and sports arms.
A proud Louisiana native, McGinnis cut her academic teeth at Louisiana State University, earning both her bachelor’s and law degree there. She's no lightweight in legal credentials either, holding merit certification in municipal law and the legal right to practice in the high courts of both the Northern District of Texas and the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
In addition to her professional duties, McGinnis throws her energy into community service. She's a presence on the boardroom stage as a director for the Texas City Attorney's Association and keeps up her legal chops with memberships in the International Municipal Lawyers Association and the Tarrant County Bar Association. Her service has not gone unnoticed, with the National Forum for Black Public Administrators bestowing upon her the Governmental Excellence Award. Furthermore, she involves herself in various community endeavors, holding memberships in both the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and The Links, Incorporated.
McGinnis steps into her new role with a mandate to maintain the legal backbone of Grand Prairie and sits poised to leave her mark on the city’s legal landscape as she ushers in an era of experienced counsel and civic engagement.
