[3] Mitchell first served in the Maryland House of Delegates, Legislative District 4 (Baltimore City) from 1963 to 1967; he was elected at 22 and sworn in at 23 years old.

During the next 20 years he represented Senate, Legislative Districts 10, 38 & 39, all in Baltimore City.

Mitchell pleaded no contest in 1964 to charges of failing to file income taxes.

[4] A year after leaving the Senate in 1986, Mitchell was convicted of attempting to obstruct a grand jury, committing wire fraud and attempting to tamper with a federal investigation in the Wedtech scandal.

Their seven children include Clarence Mitchell IV, Stepson to Joyce, who served in the Maryland House of Delegates and the Maryland State Senate, and also hosted The C4 Show on WBAL radio.