Johnny Cocharan

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 court room, 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 Angelas 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