Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. (1937-2005)

Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. founded The Cochran Firm over 40 years ago to bring justice to people across America.  Although Johnnie has since passed away, his vision lives on, and The Cochran Firm now boasts 27 offices in 16 states all across the country.

Born in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1937, Johnnie Cochran moved with his family to California at a young age, where the educational opportunities opened up before him.  By the age of 12, young Johnnie knew already that he wanted to be a lawyer, feeling a calling to stand up for other people and speak for them when they can't speak for themselves.

May 17, 1954 was a turning point in Johnnie's life.  The decision of Brown vs. Board of Education, and in particular the work of Thurgood Marshall, then Chief Counsel for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) but soon to be Federal Court (and later Supreme Court) Justice, inspired Johnnie regarding the type of lawyer he wanted to be and the power of the law to bring about powerful social change.

After earning a bachelor's degree from the University of California at Los Angeles and a law degree from Loyola Law School, Johnnie began his legal career as a deputy city attorney, criminal division, with the city of Los Angeles.  He left for private practice and began a long career of criminal defense work, including many high-profile cases.  His career turned back to public service as he joined the district attorney's office, helping to effect change from the inside regarding police procedures.  Returning to private practice, Johnnie focused his attention on fighting civil rights violations and effecting change through civil lawsuits.

Johnnie's high-profile cases ranged from police brutality cases such as Leonard Deadwyler to defending a former Black Panther and numerous celebrities, including Michael Jackson and O.J. Simpson, among others.  While many cases brought fame and fortune to Johnnie Cochran, it was the daily fight for justice for the nameless and faceless that originally inspired him to practice law, and this inspiration carried him through his entire legal career and provided the cornerstone for building The Cochran Firm Los Angeles.