Thomas Conner Lynch (May 20, 1904 – May 29, 1986) was an American lawyer who served as District Attorney in San Francisco and as Attorney General of California from 1964 to 1971.
Following law school, Lynch was admitted to the bar in 1930 and worked as an insurance underwriter before being appointed an Assistant U.S. Attorney in 1933. Lynch later became chief deputy to Pat Brown following Brown's election as San Francisco District Attorney in 1943. Lifelong friends, Lynch and Brown had first met through mutual friends on trips to Yosemite.
Attorney General of California
In 1964, Lynch was appointed Attorney General by Governor Pat Brown to succeed Stanley Mosk, who Brown had appointed to the Supreme Court of California. As Attorney General, Lynch helped draft legislation relating to law enforcement, including measures to control use of narcotics, to control promotion and sales of pornographic material and to control destructive devices and dangerous weapons. He also aided to improve the quality of law enforcement.
Running for a full term in 1966, Lynch was the only Democrat to retain statewide office amid Ronald Reagan's defeat of Pat Brown, defeating Spencer Mortimer Williams.
1968 Democratic Party presidential primaries
Initially tapped to lead pro-Lyndon Johnson delegation prior to Johnson's decision not to seek reelection, Lynch ran as a favorite son candidate in the 1968 California Democratic presidential primary, placing third behind Robert F. Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy.
Later life
Lynch died in San Francisco on May 29, 1986, following a six year battle with cancer. At the time of his death, Lynch was an attorney with the San Francisco law firm Gerald Marcus.