why was johnnie cochran a good lawyer

Why is Johnnie L Cochran a popular attorney? Attorney Cochran fame grew when he took O.J. Simpson’s case in 1995. The case was dubbed the ‘trial of the century’. The White community hated him for representing Simpson who was black. The attorney has kept a reputation for his approach to the legal process and human rights.

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What did John Cochran like to do as a lawyer?

Cochran had often liked to say that he worked "not only for the OJs, but also the No Js". In other words, he enjoyed defending or suing in the name of those who did not have fame or wealth. Cochran believed that most glorious moment as a lawyer occurred when he won the freedom of Geronimo Pratt.

Who is Johnnie L Cochran?

Five years later, Cochran returned to private practice, reinventing himself as "the best in the West" by opening the Johnnie L Cochran Jr. law firm. In contrast to his early loss in the Deadwyler case, Cochran won US$ 760,000 for the family of Ron Settles, a black college football player who, his family claimed, was murdered by the police.

Where is Johnnie Cochran's law firm?

Return to private practice. Cochran's office, maintained in his memory at The Cochran Firm, 4949 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California. Five years later, Cochran returned to private practice, reinventing himself as "the best in the West" by opening the Johnnie L Cochran Jr. law firm.

Why did Johnnie Cochran join the government?

According to The Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame, Johnnie Cochran became the first African American assistant district attorney in Los Angeles when he was hired to the position in 1978. He said that joining the government was the best way to become one of the "good guys" that can fight for justice within the justice system.

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Is Johnnie 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.

What made Johnnie Cochran good?

Cochran felt his career was a calling, a double opportunity to work for what he considered to be right and to challenge what he considered wrong; he could make a difference by practicing law.

Who was the best lawyer for OJ Simpson?

F. Lee Bailey, the flamboyant defense lawyer best known for his key role in O.J.

What did Johnnie Cochran accomplish?

Although widely known as an outstanding trial lawyer, it was Johnnie's role as lead counsel for the O.J. Simpson case that brought him international recognition. He was the only attorney in Los Angeles ever to receive both the “Civil Trial Lawyer of the Year” Award and the “Criminal Trial Lawyer of the Year” Award.

Did the gloves fit OJ?

The glove was covered in blood. According to the prosecution, that blood seeped into the fibers of the leather and shrunk it, thus explaining why Simpson's hand did not fit inside. However, without definitive proof that this was the case, the gloves were never going to go in the prosecution's favor.

Who said if the glove doesn't fit?

Twenty-five years ago today, in his closing argument at the sensational O.J. Simpson double-murder trial in Los Angeles, lead defense lawyer Johnnie L. Cochran stood before the jurors and urged them to keep this in mind: “If it doesn't fit, you must acquit.”

Which Kardashian is a lawyer?

Kim first revealed her plans to become a lawyer back in 2019, following in her late father's footsteps. Robert Kardashian was an attorney who is mostly known for representing OJ Simpson during his murder trial in the 1990s.

How is Robert Kardashian related to O.J. Simpson?

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.

What kind of lawyer was Robert Kardashian?

Robert George Kardashian (February 22, 1944 - September 30, 2003) was an Armenian-American attorney & businessman. He gained national recognition as O.J.'s friend and defense attorney during his 1995 murder trial.

What was Johnnie Cochran role in the OJ trial?

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. Cochran, Johnnie L., Jr.

Does the Chewbacca defense work?

As a Chewbacca defense distracts and misleads, it is an example of a red herring. It is also an example of an irrelevant conclusion, a type of informal fallacy in which one making an argument fails to address the issue in question.

Was OJ at Nicole's funeral?

June 16, 1994Nicole Brown Simpson / Date of burial

What was Johnnie Cochran's strategy?

He repeatedly uttered the phrase to make sure that the disconnection in the jury's minds between the prosecution's claims and what they saw in court was filled with his proof of reasonable doubt.

How did Johnnie Cochran win?

Johnnie Cochran, OJ Simpson's lawyer, was able to win an acquittal for his client by making the mid-nineties trial about race, not a double murder. To do so, he manipulated the media, according to Christopher Darden, one of the prosecutors charged with trying Simpson.

Does the Chewbacca defense work?

As a Chewbacca defense distracts and misleads, it is an example of a red herring. It is also an example of an irrelevant conclusion, a type of informal fallacy in which one making an argument fails to address the issue in question.

Did Johnny Cochran redecorate OJ house?

He personally supervised the removal of photos that show Simpson and his white friends, and the redecoration of the home with African art and photos of the former pro footballer with other African-Americans.

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.

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.

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.)

When did the trial of the century start?

The “trial of the century,” as it was dubbed, began in January 1995 and was among the most publicized in history, followed by millions around the world. Cochran, displaying his trademark style, came to lead the team, with some conflict rising among the attorneys amidst sensational proceedings.

Who is the lawyer who wrote Journey to Justice?

Cochran penned the books Journey to Justice (1996) and A Lawyer's Life (2002). He appeared on Court TV’s Inside America’s Courts and was also featured on a number of TV programs, including Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Chris Rock Show and The Roseanne Show as well as the Spike Lee film Bamboozled (2000). Cochran continued to take on new cases into the new millennium, ranging from work for clients like Abner Louima, who was tortured while in New York City police custody, and rapper/music mogul Sean "Puffy" Combs, to an anti-trust litigation issued against racing giant NASCAR.

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 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 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.

Why was Johnnie Cochran so famous?

This is because Cochran had nothing to do with O.J.'s defense team in the beginning.

Why did Johnnie Cochran keep his private life out of the headlines?

This in part came from some disturbing accusations leveled against him by his first wife and an affair during their marriage.

What is Johnnie Cochran's legacy?

Cochran is an important figure in the African American and social justice community. His work and leadership have had a lasting legacy almost two decades after his death, and in today's America, with the death of George Floyd and the nationwide protest in the summer of 2020, one wonders what Johnnie Cochran's role would be in the national conversation. Here is the untold truth of Johnnie Cochran.

What episode did Cochran represent a record company?

As for actual portrayals of Cochran, in a season two episode of South Park, Cochran represented a record company and then the character Chef in two lawsuits. For his closing statements, instead of discussing the case, Cochran rambled about the Star Wars character Chewbacca, which led to his victories.

When did Johnnie Cochran start private practice?

Switching to private practice. In 1965 , Johnnie Cochran switched to the other side of the bench, entering private practice with Gerald Lenior, a prominent local attorney. According to Jrank.org, that partnership did not last long, and by the next year, Cochran had formed a new firm called Cochran, Atkins & Evans.

Where did Johnnie Cochran go to law school?

He would continue his education at the Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, where he would receive his Juris Doctor in 1963.

What did Cochran's parents do?

Given his parents' background, it's easy to see what led Cochran to develop his rhetorical and deal-making skills in his adult life . As told by Sun Signs, his father worked as an insurance salesman, and his mother worked as an Avon Lady, selling beauty products. His dining room table was a lesson in negotiation and oratory techniques.

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:

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.

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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.

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.