Johnnie Cochran was born in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1937. He
received his bachelor's degree in business administration from
the University of California at Los Angeles. Mr. Cochran graduated
from the Loyola University School of Law in 1962.
In 1963, he began his legal career in Los Angeles, California
as a Deputy City Attorney for the city's criminal division. He
remained in that position for three years before co-founding Cochran,
Atkins and Evans. The firm practiced civil and criminal cases.
In 1977, after several victories in the courtroom, he was honored
by the L.A. Criminal Courts Bar Association as the "Criminal
Trial Lawyer of the Year". Mr. Cochran is the only attorney
ever to receive the Trail Lawyer of the Year award from both the
Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association and the Criminal Courts
Bar Association. He returned to public service in 1978, when he
became the first African-American Assistant District Attorney
of Los Angeles County. He was the first African American to hold
the position. In 1981, Cochran formed the law practice of Johnnie
L. Cochran, Jr. The firm specialized in entertainment law, criminal
defense, public financing and personal injury litigation. In 1982,
he settled a case with the state of California for a record amount.
In 1990, Cochran expanded his reach to Washington, DC under the
name of Cochran, Mitchell & Lotkin. In 1993, he was inducted
into The American College of Trial Lawyers, the preeminent organization
for the top 1% of trial lawyers. He is a member of the prestigious
International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the American College
of Trial Lawyers. Mr. Cochran was also inducted into the Inner
Circle of Advocates, which is composed of the country's top 100
plaintiff lawyers. His autobiography, "Journey to Justice,
" is a national best seller.
Inspired by his idol Thurgood Marshall, and the "Brown versus
Board of Education" case, Cochran has focused his career
on helping eliminate blatant abuses by police toward people of
color.
In September 1994, Cochran was selected as one of the Best Lawyers
in America. He and his wife received the Golden Bell Award.
The 33-year legal veteran clings to his mother's belief that ultimately
truth prevails and he sees the alternative of giving up as not
a viable option for future generations.
More
on our 2003 Black History Makers
Willie
Gary | Catherine
L. Hughes | Johnnie
L. Cochran
