Ivan J. Bates

State's Attorney for Baltimore City

On January 3, 2023, Ivan J. Bates was sworn in as the 26th State’s Attorney for Baltimore City.

Ivan is a successful attorney, strong leader, respected community advocate, and dedicated family man with more than 25 years of experience as both a prosecutor and defense attorney. An army veteran, he has decades of leadership experience and is committed to fighting on the front lines for fairness, truth, and justice. 

As a young man, Ivan looked to three role models when deciding on a career path. First was his father, Henry B. Bates, Jr., who had a successful career in the United States Army that took the family around the world. The second was his mother, Cleora J. Bates, who was Ivan’s greatest supporter while he was attending school. Last, Ivan was inspired by Justice Thurgood Marshall, a Baltimore native and skilled civil rights attorney who became the first African-American Supreme Court Justice.

Ivan followed in his father’s footsteps and enlisted in the United States Army, which helped him develop discipline, leadership, and teamwork skills. Ivan completed his undergraduate studies at Howard University (Go Bison!) and attended The William & Mary Law School for his J.D. Ivan was a proud recipient of many awards during his college years. 

Ivan’s career has come full circle, and he returns to the same office where his law career began: his first post after passing the bar exam in 1995 was as an Assistant State's Attorney for Baltimore City. He was privileged to serve as a Law Clerk for the Honorable Judge David B. Mitchell, who inspired and mentored him. 

In 2006, Ivan established his own mid-sized firm in the heart of Baltimore: Bates & Garcia LLC. For 17 years, he built a successful practice, mentored rising attorneys, and built a reputable team of legal experts. Ivan also appeared in every Court in the State of Maryland and had the opportunity to represent clients in federal court in Maryland, San Francisco, and Northern Virginia. 

As Baltimore City State’s Attorney, Ivan will prioritize holding violent offenders accountable and focus on restoring safety, justice, truth, and equality to our beloved City. He will work tirelessly to build bridges for a better Baltimore and create the City he envisions for his young daughter, London, his entire family, and every family in Baltimore.