Johnnie Cochran was an American lawyer, known for handling many high-profile cases such as O.J. Simpson, Michael Jackson, Sean Combs, and others. He was born on October 2, 1937, in Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S. Johnie retired from work in 2002. Cochran gained popularity with his skillful defense of O.J. Simpson, a football player who was charged with a double murder.
Earlier he started his work as a Deputy City Attorney and launched his firm, Cochran, Atkins, & Evans in 1965. Currently, his firm has 26 branches in different states. He died on March 29, 2005, at the age of 67. Johnnie Cochran had a net worth of approximately 8 million dollars at his death. In this guide, we will go through the career, early life, and net worth of Johnnie Cochran.
Early Life
Johnnie Cochran was born on October 2, 1937, in Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S. His father Johnnie Cochran Sr. was an insurance salesman and his mother sold Avon beauty products. Their family moved to the West Coast, Los Angeles during the second wave of the Great Migration in 1949.
Education
Johnnie completed his schooling at a local school in Los Angeles and graduated from Los Angeles High School in 1955. Then he attended the University of California and passed with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics in 1959. He also obtained a Juris Doctor degree from the Loyola Law College in 1962.
Career
Cochran was greatly influenced by Thurgood Marshall. He passed the bar exam in 1963 and then worked as a deputy city attorney in the criminal division. His first celebrity case was in 1964 when he prosecuted comedian Lenny Bruce on a charge of obscenity. Then after two years, he entered private practice. In 1965 he launched his firm, Cochran, Atkins, & Evans. Cochran’s first major case was representing an African American widow who sued police officers who killed her husband Leonard Deadwyler. The case was a turning point in his life. Cochran lost the case but he realized that the trial had awakened the black community.
Then in 1978, he returned to the Los Angeles Assistant District Attorney’s Office. There he worked in the leadership position of First Assistant District Attorney. Five years later again he returned to private practice and opened the Johnnie L Cochran Jr. law firm. He won US$760,000 for the Ron Settles case, who was a black football player. His family claimed that he was murdered by the police.
O.J. Simpson Case
Before this case, he became the “go-to” later for the rich. The O.J. Simpson case gave him more wealth and reputation. In 19995 Johnnie Cochran defended O.J. Simpson for murdering his ex-wife and her friend. After nine months of public trial Simpson was controversially Acquitted though both circumstantial and physical evidence showed that Simpson had killed the victims. During the closing arguments, Cochran said his famous line “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit”. However, Cochran did not represent Simpson in the subsequent civil trial. Lastly, he successfully convinced the jury that the police planted evidence against his client Simpson. Following the trial, he appeared on TV and hosted his show, CourtTV’s “Johnnie Cochran Tonight”.
Other Cases
Johnnie Cochran dealt with many other high-profile cases. He successfully represented Abner Louima, a Haitian immigrant living in Brooklyn who had been raped while in police custody. Louima awarded an $8.75 million settlement, which was the largest police brutality settlement in New York’s history.
Johnnie Cochran defendant Stanley Tookie William a 17-year-old boy who was a known member of the Westside Crips street gang.
In 1993 he also represented Michael Jackson when he was accused of child molestation. The case was successfully settled out of court.
Cochran represented Sean Combs in 2001 who was indicted on bribery and stolen weapon charges. He successfully fought the case and Combs was acquitted. In 2002 Cochran told Combs that it would be his last criminal case.
Personal Life
In 1950 Johnnie wed Barbara Berry. They divorced in 1977. Then he married Sylvia Dale. Cochran divorced Sylvia Dale in 2005. He has three children.
Net Worth and Sources of Income
Johnnie Cochran had a net worth of approximately 8 million dollars at his death. His main income source was derived from legal fees, particularly from cases involving civil rights violations and police brutality. Also, he earned from media presence and many business ventures affiliated with his law firm. He had collections of cars such as Jaguar and Rolls Royce. Cochran also bought a house in Los Angeles, two apartments in West Hollywood, and a condo in Manhattan.
Legacy
- Los Angeles Unified Schol District officials approved the renaming of Mount Vernon Middle School as Johnnie L Cochran Jr. Middle school on January 24, 2006.
- Next in 2007 three block stretch of the street in front of the school was renamed Johnnie Cochran Vista.
- Cedars Sinal Medical Center in Los Angeles open the new Johnnie L Cochran Jr. Brain Tumor Center in 2007.
Conclusion
Cochran was diagnosed with brain tumor. He died on March 29, 2005 at his home in Los Angeles. However he established himself as a prominent lawyer. In this article we have discussed his career, personal life, net worth and more.
Frequently Asked Questions[F.A.Q.]
How much money does Johnnie Cochran make?
Johnnie Cochran had a net worth of approximately 8 million dollars at his death. His main income source was derived from legal fees, particularly from cases involving civil rights violations and police brutality. Also, he earned from media presence and many business ventures affiliated with his law firm.
What happened to Johnnie Cochran?
Cochran was diagnosed with brain tumor. He died on March 29, 2005 at his home in Los Angeles.
