what type of lawyer was johnnie cochran

by Kailyn Stroman 4 min read

Johnnie Lee Cochran Jr. (/ˈkɒkrən/; October 2, 1937 – March 29, 2005) was an American lawyer and civil activist best known for his leadership role in the defense and criminal acquittal of O. J. Simpson
O. J. Simpson
Once a popular figure with the U.S. public, he is now best known for being tried for the murders of his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman. Simpson was acquitted of the murders in criminal court but was later found responsible for both deaths in a civil trial.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › O._J._Simpson
for the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman.

Full Answer

See more

image

Is Johnny Cochran a good lawyer?

Cochran, Jr. has been recognized as an outstanding trial lawyer, civil libertarian and philanthropist throughout the world. As a seasoned litigator, Johnnie was considered to be one of the leading authorities on the criminal and civil justice system, as well as an international leader in the legal profession.

Where did Johnnie Cochran attend law school?

Loyola Law School, Los AngelesLoyola Marymount UniversityUniversity of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles High SchoolJohnnie Cochran/Education

What Did O.J. Simpson do to the Kardashians?

Robert George Kardashian (February 22, 1944 – September 30, 2003) was an American attorney and businessman. He gained recognition as O. J. Simpson's friend and defense attorney during Simpson's 1995 murder trial....Robert KardashianOccupationAttorney businessmanKnown forO. J. Simpson murder case10 more rows

Who was the lawyer that defended O.J. Simpson?

Famed attorney F. Lee Bailey, who defended O.J. Simpson, dies at age 87. F. Lee Bailey, the flamboyant defense lawyer best known for his key role in O.J. Simpson's "Dream Team," has died, a longtime colleague said Thursday.

Where was Johnnie Cochran born?

Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. was born on October 2, 1937, in Shreveport, Louisiana, to Hattie and Johnnie L. Cochran Sr. The family moved to California in 1943, where the younger Cochran eventually excelled as a student in what was becoming a more racially integrated environment. In 1959, he received his bachelor's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and later attended Loyola Marymount University Law School, graduating in 1962. Upon passing the bar, Cochran worked as a deputy criminal prosecutor in Los Angeles. By mid-decade, he’d entered private practice with Gerald Lenoir and soon launched a firm of his own, Cochran, Atkins & Evans.

Who was the attorney who took on the police abuse cases against African Americans?

In 1966, a Black motorist named Leonard Deadwyler, while attempting to get his pregnant wife to a hospital, was killed by police officer Jerold Bova. Cochran filed a civil suit on behalf of Deadwyler's family; though he lost, the attorney was nonetheless inspired to take on police abuse cases over the ensuing years. During the early 1980s, he oversaw a settlement for the family of African American football player Ron Settles, who died in a police cell under questionable circumstances. The following decade, Cochran won a huge, unprecedented court payment for a 13-year-old molested by an officer.

Who was the Nazi dictator who was found not guilty of murder?

Cochran thus made controversial closing statements in which he compared the detective’s philosophy to that of Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. Simpson was found not guilty in his murder trial, yet nonetheless faced civil litigation, with millions in damages awarded to the Brown and Goldman families.

Who was charged with attempted murder?

Over the years, Cochran's roster included famous entertainers like actor Todd Bridges, who was charged with attempted murder, and pop icon Michael Jackson, with Cochran arranging an out-of-court settlement for the singer in relation to child molestation charges.

Was Pratt imprisoned?

Pratt was convicted and imprisoned, while Cochran maintained that the activist was railroaded by authorities, pushing for a retrial. (The conviction was eventually overturned after more than two decades. Pratt was released, with Cochran also overseeing a wrongful imprisonment suit.)

Who is Johnnie Cochran?

Full Article. Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr., (born Oct. 2, 1937, Shreveport, La., U.S.—died March 29, 2005, Los Angeles, Calif.), American trial lawyer who gained international prominence with his skillful and controversial defense of O.J. Simpson, a football player and celebrity who was charged with a double murder in 1994.

What did Cochran do in the 21st century?

At the beginning of the 21st century, Cochran oversaw 10 law firms throughout the country. He took on the role of chairman of the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, a publicly funded agency that sought economic development for the neighbourhoods of Harlem, Washington Heights, and Inwood.

Who was Michael Jackson's lawyer?

His clients included celebrities such as Michael Jackson and Tupac Shakur as well as minority victims of police brutality. Cochran first gained national recognition in 1994 when he joined the legal team defending Simpson, who was accused of killing his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman.

Trivia

His reputation as an early activist for victims of police cruelty was widely acknowledged.

Does Johnnie Cochran Dead or Alive?

As per our current Database, Johnnie Cochran died on Mar 29, 2005 (age 67).

Before Fame

He was inspired by Thurgood Marshall 's win in the case Brown vs. the Board of Education, and so decided to practice law.

Biography Timeline

Cochran was born in 1937 in Shreveport, Louisiana. His father, Johnnie Cochran Sr. (1916-2018), was an insurance salesman, and his mother sold Avon products. The family relocated to the West Coast during the second wave of the Great Migration, settling in Los Angeles in 1949.

How many lawyers did Cochran have?

After returning to private practice, Cochran built his firm into a personal injury giant with more than 100 lawyers and offices around the country. Flamboyant in public, he kept his private life shrouded in secrecy, and when some of those secrets became public following a 1978 divorce, they were startling.

How did Johnnie Cochran die?

Cochran Jr. ( search ), who became a household name when he defended O.J. Simpson ( search) against murder charges, died of a brain tumor on Tuesday at the age of 67.

What did Jackson say about Johnnie Cochran?

Reacting to news of Cochran's death Tuesday, Jackson had kind words for the lawyer he considered "a great humanitarian.". "Johnnie Cochran was a true gentleman who embodied class, brilliance, honesty and integrity," Jackson said in a statement. "His fight for justice transcended color, age or economic status. ... I loved him, and I will miss him.

When did Cochran help Pratt win his freedom?

When Cochran helped Pratt win his freedom in 1997 he called the moment "the happiest day of my life practicing law.". He won a $760,000 award in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Ron Settles, a black college football star who died in police custody in 1981.

Who was the first black justice?

As a youth, Cochran idolize Thurgood Marshall, the attorney who persuaded the U.S. Supreme Court to outlaw school segregation in the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education decision and who would eventually become the Supreme Court's first black justice.

Who was Cochran's first wife?

His first marriage, to his college sweetheart, Barbara Berry, produced two daughters, Melodie and Tiffany. During their divorce, it came to light that for 10 years Cochran had secretly maintained a "second family," which included a son.

Did the injunction violate the First Amendment?

During arguments last Tuesday, justices seemed skeptical of Cochran's attorney's claim that the injunction did not violate the First Amendment. Born in Shreveport, La., the great-grandson of slaves, grandson of a sharecropper and son of an insurance salesman, Cochran came to Los Angeles with his family in 1949.

Education and Early Legal Career

Johnnie Cochran began his education at the University of California at Los Angeles where he received his undergraduate degree in business administration. From there, he attended the Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, receiving his Juris Doctor.

Distinctions and Associations

Johnnie Cochran remains the only attorney in Los Angeles to have ever received both the “Civil Trial Lawyer of the Year” and the “Criminal Trial Lawyer of the Year” awards. In addition, Johnnie enjoyed the following distinctions:

Dedication to Ordinary Citizens

Johnnie Cochran was recognized by his peers as a leading trial lawyer, but he was also a dedicated civil libertarian and philanthropist. As part of his commitment to his community, Johnnie helped establish:

Is he the best? Or Just the Most Famous?

Johnnie Cochran will always be best remembered as the criminal attorney who defended O.J. Simpson in the most publicly presented murder case in the history of the world. Back when Simpson was on trial for the deaths of Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman, televised trials were a relatively new type of programming. It was the daily broadcast of the O.J.

How He Became a Household Name

Johnnie Cochran built his law practice from humble beginnings to a network of more than twenty offices scattered across the country. He gained a reputation by successfully prosecuting cases against police brutality and misdeeds.

Is He the Best?

Other equally, or more talented criminal lawyers such as Gerry Spence, Roy Black and Bruce Cutler, have impeccable and very impressive records. They too command the highest fees and are sought after by all of those who can afford to hire the best criminal lawyers in the world.

image