Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr.: What is Africa to Me?

Johnnie Cochran

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Johnnie Cochran was an American lawyer best known for his leadership role in the defense and criminal acquittal of O. J. Simpson for the murder of his former wife Nicole Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.

Cochran was born in 1937 in Shreveport, LA, the great-grandson of an African-American slave. He completed his undergraduate degree at UCLA and earned his law degree at Loyola Marymount University School of Law in Los Angeles. Cochran became known for his skill in the courtroom and his prominence as an early advocate for victims of alleged police abuse.

Cochran also represented Sean Combs (during his trial on gun and bribery charges), Michael Jackson, actor Todd Bridges, football player Jim Brown, rapper Snoop Dogg, former heavyweight Champion Riddick Bowe, and Reginald Oliver Denny, the trucker beaten by a mob during the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

Cochran died in 2005 from a brain tumor.