Johnnie Cochran in the United States

Johnnie Cochran (1937–2005) in relation to Crime and Race

Johnnie Cochran (1937–2005) is included in the Encyclopedia of Race and Crime (1), beginning with: Johnnie Cochran was an African American lawyer and advocate of minority rights and equality of justice for everyone. He played an instrumental role in bringing attention to race and injustice in the criminal justice system in California as well as elsewhere in the United States. This section examines the life of Johnnie Cochran and his contributions to the administration of justice as a prosecuting and defense attorney. Born in 1937, Johnnie Cochran, Jr., earned his bachelor’s degree from University of California, Los Angeles in 1959 and a law degree from Loyola Law School (part of Loyola Marymount University) in 1963. Inspired by Thurgood Marshall, Cochran thought he could make a difference through practicing law. In 1963, he passed the California bar and took a job with the city of Los Angeles, serving as a deputy city attorney in the criminal division.

Resources

Notes and References

1. Entry about Johnnie Cochran (1937–2005) in the Encyclopedia of Race and Crime

See Also