Johnnie Cochran
Born 1937 · Age 89
American trial lawyer and civil-rights attorney best known as lead of O.J. Simpson's "Dream Team"; represented numerous celebrities and victims of police brutality; founder of The Cochran Firm.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Shreveport, Louisiana
Johnnie Lee Cochran Jr. born to Hattie and Johnnie Cochran Sr. in Shreveport, LA.
Family migrates to California (Great Migration)
Cochran's family relocated from Louisiana to California as part of the Second Great Migration; they initially lived near the Alameda shipyards.
Family moves to Los Angeles
Cochran family relocated to Los Angeles (father worked for Golden State Mutual); Cochran later attended Mt. Vernon Middle School and Los Angeles High School.
Graduated Los Angeles High School
Graduated first in his class from Los Angeles High School (Wikipedia gives 1955).
Earned BA from UCLA
Received Bachelor of Arts in business economics from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Married Barbara Berry
First marriage to Barbara Berry (marriage later ends 1977).
Graduated Loyola Law School (J.D.)
Graduated from Loyola Law School (Loyola Marymount University).
Passed California Bar
Passed the California bar exam (accounts state he learned results Dec 17 after taking the exam earlier that year).
Started as Deputy City Attorney, Los Angeles
Began work in the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office; assigned initially to traffic court; tried 28 tickets his first day.
Prosecuted Lenny Bruce obscenity case
One of Cochran's first celebrity prosecutions while a deputy city attorney.
Co-founded private law practice with Gerald D. Lenoir
Opened a private practice with former deputy Gerald D. Lenoir; later expanded to include Nelson L. Atkins.
Left City Attorney's Office for private practice
Resigned in March 1965 and entered private practice to represent defendants and pursue civil actions.
Watts Riots — represented many arrested clients
During the six-day Watts Rebellion he represented a large number of arrested African-American clients and worked around the clock.
Represented Deadwyler family (police-shooting case)
Represented widow of Leonard Deadwyler in a high-profile police-shooting inquest (case received extensive media attention; inquest was televised).
Represented Black Panther defendants (Willie Stafford), formed friendship with Geronimo Pratt
Appointed to defend Black Panther members including Willie Stafford; began long association with Elmer 'Geronimo' Pratt.
Defended Stanley 'Tookie' Williams (acquitted in robbery trial)
Represented a young Stanley Tookie Williams; jury acquitted Williams after a short deliberation.
Geronimo Pratt convicted (Cochran continues advocacy)
Pratt was convicted on charges in 1972; Cochran continued a nearly three-decade campaign to overturn the conviction.
Divorced Barbara Berry
End of first marriage (Barbara Berry) in 1977.
Appointed First Assistant District Attorney, Los Angeles County
Returned to government service as First Assistant D.A.; took a pay cut to work within the system.
Ron Settles arrested and found dead in Signal Hill jail
Local college football player Ron Settles was pulled over and later found dead in custody; Cochran represented the family at the coroner's inquest and obtained independent autopsy results showing police beatings.
Returned to private practice; opened Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. law firm
Left the D.A.'s office after five years and reinvented himself as a private litigator and plaintiff lawyer.
Secured settlement/judgment for Ron Settles family (reported $760,000)
Cochran later won US$760,000 for the family of Ron Settles (Wikipedia cites $760,000; exact settlement year not specified — date here estimated early-mid 1980s).
Joined Cochran, Mitchell & Jenna
Became part of the firm Cochran, Mitchell & Jenna (career firm affiliation noted in sources).
Became go-to lawyer for celebrities and civil-rights victims (career milestone)
By the 1990s Cochran was nationally known and represented high-profile clients (Tupac, Snoop Dogg, Michael Jackson, Jim Brown, Riddick Bowe, Todd Bridges) as well as victims of police brutality.
Represented Reginald Oliver Denny (1992 LA riots victim)
Handled the high-profile case of Reginald Denny, who was beaten during the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
Represented Michael Jackson in 1993 child-molestation accusations
Cochran represented Michael Jackson in the 1993 allegations that led to an out-of-court settlement.
Joined O. J. Simpson defense team
Became a member — and later lead advocate — of Simpson's 'Dream Team' defending Simpson on murder charges (trial began in January 1995).
O. J. Simpson acquitted — 'If it doesn't fit, you must acquit.'
After a nearly nine-month criminal trial culminating in October 1995, Simpson was acquitted; Cochran's closing phrase became iconic.
Cultural references spike (The Nanny references line)
Cochran's famous trial line entered popular culture (example: The Nanny episode referencing 'If it doesn't fit...').
Published Journey to Justice (memoir/co-authored)
Published Journey to Justice (1996, with Tim Rutten) — one of Cochran's memoirs detailing his career and civil-rights work.
Founded The Cochran Firm / joined Cochran, Cherry, Givens & Smith
In 1997 Cochran consolidated his practice and helped establish The Cochran Firm (national firm); sources also note firm affiliation Cochran, Cherry, Givens & Smith that year.
Practiced nationwide — firm expansion to many regional offices
The Cochran Firm grew to regional offices in multiple states (sources note expansion to around 10+ firms/offices over time).
Geronimo Pratt conviction vacated
After a sustained legal campaign, Pratt's 1972 conviction was vacated on June 10, 1997 — a case Cochran described as his 'most glorious' victory.
Satirized in pop culture — 'Chewbacca defense' parody
South Park (1998) parodied Cochran's courtroom strategy as the 'Chewbacca defense,' demonstrating his broad cultural impact.
Portrayals & parodies proliferate in 1990s popular culture
Character Jackie Chiles (Phil Morris) on Seinfeld and South Park's 'Chewbacca defense' both drew on Cochran's style and courtroom moments; Cochran publicly accepted parodies and discussed them in his memoir.
Hosted 'Johnnie Cochran Tonight' on CourtTV; media appearances increase
Following Simpson fame Cochran became a frequent TV commentator and hosted his own CourtTV show; appeared in film/TV including cameo roles.
Oversaw multiple law firms nationally
By the turn of the millennium Cochran oversaw several (reported ~10) law firms/offices across the country (Britannica notes ten firms at the beginning of the 21st century).
Appeared in Spike Lee's film 'Bamboozled' and other media
Made appearances in film/TV (Bamboozled 2000) and was a frequent legal commentator on national media.
Abner Louima awarded $8.75M settlement (Cochran represented Louima)
Cochran represented Abner Louima; Louima was awarded an $8.75 million settlement — one of NYC's largest police-brutality settlements.
Represented Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs — acquittal
Combs was indicted on bribery/weapons charges and hired Cochran; Combs was acquitted in 2001.
Accountant forecast: $25–50M net worth within five years
Cochran's accountant estimated in 2001 that within five years Cochran would be worth US$25–50 million (projection).
Announced would retire from criminal cases; retired after Combs trial
Told Combs in 2002 that the Combs trial would be his last criminal case; he retired from criminal practice thereafter.
Published A Lawyer's Life (memoir)
Published A Lawyer's Life (autobiography; sources list 2002–2003 as publication date depending on edition).
Diagnosed with brain tumor
In December 2003 Cochran was diagnosed with a brain tumor (publicly disclosed later).
Underwent brain surgery
Underwent surgery for the brain tumor in April 2004 and stayed out of the media during recovery.
Died of brain tumor in Los Angeles
Died at home in Los Angeles on March 29, 2005; public viewings and memorial services followed in early April.
Public casket viewing and funeral services
Public viewing April 4 at Angelus Funeral Home and April 5 at Second Baptist Church; memorial service April 6 at West Angeles Cathedral; interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery.
U.S. Supreme Court opinion in Tory v. Cochran (posthumous)
Supreme Court ruled 7–2 that in light of Cochran's death, an injunction limiting demonstrations constituted an overly broad prior restraint; case decided May 31, 2005.
Mount Vernon Middle School renamed Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. Middle School
Los Angeles Unified School District unanimously approved renaming the middle school Cochran attended in his boyhood in his honor.
Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. Brain Tumor Center opens at Cedars-Sinai
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center opened the Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. Brain Tumor Center, led by neurosurgeon Keith Black.
Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. Chair in Civil Rights established at Loyola Law School
An endowed chair in civil rights was created at Cochran's alma mater (Loyola Law School) in his memory.
Street named 'Johnnie Cochran Vista' and Walk of Stars recognition
Three-block stretch in front of the renamed middle school was designated 'Johnnie Cochran Vista'; his footprints added to Northwest Louisiana Walk of Stars in Shreveport.
Depicted in 'The People v. O. J. Simpson' (Courtney B. Vance won Emmy)
Courtney B. Vance portrayed Cochran in FX's 'The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story' (2016); Vance won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie.
Key Achievement Ages
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