Johnnie Cochran
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Johnnie Cochran was born on October 2, 1937 in Shreveport, Louisiana. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1959 and his Juris Doctor at Loyola Marymount University School of Law (now Loyola Law School) in 1962. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.
He was a lawyer best known for his leadership role in one of the most famous trials in American history, the defense and criminal acquittal of football star OJ "The Juice" Simpson for the murder of his former wife Nicole Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. Johnnie Cochran led the legal team that got OJ Simpson acquitted of murder charges. Even after this foolishness, Cochran managed to work a miracle. During closing arguments, Cochran uttered the now famous phrase, "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit."
Check out Cochran in action during the OJ Simpson trial:
Cochran also represented Sean Combs (during his trial on gun and bribery charges), Michael Jackson, actor Todd Bridges, football player Jim Brown, rapper Snoop Dogg, former heavyweight Champion Riddick Bowe, Reginald Oliver Denny, the trucker beaten by a mob during the 1992 Los Angeles riots, and Rosa Parks.
He also defended athlete Marion Jones when she faced charges of doping during her high school track career. Cochran was known for his skill in the courtroom and his prominence as an early advocate for victims of alleged police abuse.
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. In 1995, he was named "America's Trial Lawyer of the Year" by The National Law Journal, as well as being named one of the "Headliners of the Year" by Time magazine.
In 1996, Johnnie was elected for membership into the Inner Circle of Advocates, an exclusive organization composed of the top 100 personal injury lawyers in America. He further held the distinction of being inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers, an organization whose membership consists of the top one percent of trial lawyers in the United States. He was also inducted into the prestigious International Academy of Trial lawyers, which is comprised of leading trial attorneys from throughout the world.
In 1999, he was named one of the "Top 50 Trial Attorneys of 1999" by the Los Angeles Business Journal.
He helped establish the Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. Academy of Legal Studies and Community Service in East Orange, New Jersey, the Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. Center for Early Learning At Second Baptist Church in Los Angeles, and scholarship funds for the University of California at Los Angeles, the University of New Mexico School of Law, and the Southern University School of Law in Baton Rouge.
In the early '90s Cochran became founding partner of what is now known as The Cochran Firm. It has grown to have twenty-six offices located in fifteen states: Miami FL, Dothan AL, Tuskegee AL, Atlanta GA, Huntsville AL, Birmingham AL, Mobile AL, New Orleans LA (2), Metairie LA, Houston TX, Dallas TX, Memphis TN, St. Louis MO, Chicago IL, West Farmington Hills MI, Washington D.C., Philadelphia PA, New York NY, Las Vegas NV, Los Angeles CA, San Jose CA, Oakland CA, Sacramento CA, Shreveport LA, and Jackson MS.
Cochran is also a published author. In 1996, Journey To Justice became a best seller, followed by A Lawyer's Life in 2002.
Cochran joined the ancestors on March 29, 2005 after losing a courageous battle with a brain tumor.
He is an inspiration to me and many of my colleagues.
HUSL Today Salutes Johnnie Cochran!!!
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