Little Known Black History Fact: Johnnie Cochran

Johnnie L. Cochran was one of the most sought-after criminal defense attorneys in the nation after he represented former football great O.J. Simpson in an explosive murder trial. After the October 1995 verdict, the native of Shreveport, La. went on to represent other celebrates and entertainers in a variety of high profile cases.

Cochran was born October 2, 1937. The L in his name is his actual full middle name. His father was an insurance salesman and his mother sold Avon beauty products. When Cochran was 12, the family uprooted and resettled in Los Angeles, Calif.

Cochran earned his undergraduate degree from UCLA and his law degree from the Loyola Law School. Cochran named Thurgood Marshall as an influence on his career, and was most impressed with the happenings of the Brown v. Board Of Education decision.

Cochran started his career as a Deputy City Attorney in the criminal division in Los Angeles. He later opened a private firm in Woodstock, Ill. It was then Cochran made a name for himself as a champion of those combating police brutality and racism at the hands of authorities in power. Before long, Cochran was known in the African-American community as an attorney who took on tough cases and won on behalf of his clients.

Cochran rejoined the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office as its first black Assistant District Attorney in 1978. He returned to private practice five years later, taking on difficult cases and wowing court rooms with his savvy and wit. Even before he was retained by Simpson, Cochran was known as a winning defense attorney for the wealthy.

Along with Simpson, Cochran won millions in a settlement for Haitian immigrant Abner Louima, who was brutally assaulted by NYPD. Cochran represented Sean “Diddy” Combs in what would be his last criminal case in 2002. Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, and former boxing champ Riddick Bowe were also among Cochran’s list of big name clients. Cochran died in March 2005 after battling with a brain tumor he was diagnosed with in 2004.

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