Martha Mary Coakley (born July 14, 1953) is the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and a candidate in the special election‎ to fill the Class 1 seat in the United States Senate made vacant by the death of Senator Ted Kennedy. Prior to serving as Attorney General, she was District Attorney of Middlesex County, Massachusetts from 1999 to 2007.

Coakley was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts to Edward J. and Phillys E. Coakley (née Laffey). A year later, she moved with her parents to North Adams. There, Coakley attended St. Joseph's School and Drury High School, graduating from the latter in June, 1971. Coakley currently resides in Medford. She is married to Thomas F. O'Connor, Jr.

Coakley received a B.A., cum laude from Williams College in 1975. She received a J.D. from Boston University School of Law in 1979.