The ex-mistress of O.J. Simpson's defense attorney Johnnie Cochran has agreed to a settlement.

An American lawyer and civil activist best known for his leadership role in the defense and criminal acquittal of O.J. Simpson for the murder of his ex-wife Nicole, Johnnie Lee Cochran Jr. was born on October 2, 1937.He rhymed "if it doesn't fit, you must acquit!"[3]

Sean Combs was represented by Cochran during his trial on gun and bribe charges, as well as Michael Jackson, Stanley Tookie Williams, Jim Brown, and Riddick Bowe.He was an athlete's lawyer when she faced drug charges.Cochran was an early advocate for victims of police brutality and was known for his skill in the courtroom.[2]

Cochran was born in Shreveport, Louisiana.His father was an insurance salesman and his mother was a salesperson.The family moved to Los Angeles in 1949 during the second wave of the Great Migration.Cochran graduated first in his class from Los Angeles High School in 1955.He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in business economics from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1959 and a Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School in 1962.He was a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.It was 9 and 10.

Cochran decided to devote his life to practicing law after watching Thurgood Marshall's legal victory in Brown v. Board of Education.Cochran thought his career was a calling and that he could make a difference by practicing law.Cochran wrote in A Lawyer's Life that a single dedicated man could use the law to change society.

Cochran vowed not to stop what he was doing despite setbacks as a lawyer.[11]

Cochran was a deputy city attorney in Los Angeles after passing the California bar exam.One of Cochran's first celebrity cases was that of Lenny Bruce, a comedian who was recently arrested on obscenity charges.Cochran entered private practice two years later.He opened his own firm in Los Angeles.[3]

Cochran represented an African-American widow who sued several police officers who shot and killed her husband.It became a turning point in Cochran's career when he lost the case.Cochran realized that the trial had awakened the black community.Cochran wrote in The American Lawyer that those were difficult cases to win in those days.The issue of police abuse galvanized the minority community.These cases could get a lot of attention.

Cochran established his reputation in the black community.He was litigating police brutality and criminal cases.[2]

Cochran returned to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office in 1978 as the first assistant district attorney.He joined the government because it was his way of becoming one of the good guys.He began to change his image and strengthen his ties with the political community.[15]

After returning to private practice, Cochran reinvented himself as "the best in the West" by opening the Johnnie L Cochran Jr. law firm.Cochran won US$760,000 for the family of Ron Settles, a black college football player who, his family claimed, was murdered by the police.Cochran joined another firm in 1990 and joined Cochran, Cherry, Givens & Smith in 1997.The Cochran Firm now has regional offices in fifteen states.

Cochran was opposed to tort reform in most of his cases.Cochran's success as a lawyer allowed him to encourage settlement simply by his presence on a case.According to Rev.Corporations and violators shook after Jesse Jackson called Johnnie Cochran.[15]

Cochran's rhetoric in the courtroom has been described as theatrical.His practice as a lawyer made him rich.He spent his money on cars such as a Jaguar and a Rolls-Royce.He owned homes in Los Angeles, West Hollywood and Manhattan.Cochran's accountant estimated in 2001 that he would be worth 50 million dollars in five years.[21]

Cochran had a reputation before the Simpson case of being a go-to lawyer for the rich, as well as a successful advocate for minorities in police brutality and civil rights cases.The Simpson trial made Cochran more well-known, generating a variety of opinions about him.[19]

Cochran liked to say that he worked for both the No Js and the OJs.He liked defending or suing in the name of those who were not famous or wealthy.Cochran believed that the greatest moment as a lawyer was when he won the freedom of Geronimo Pratt."Pratt's release was the happiest day of my legal practice," Cochran said.Cochran was willing to fight for the little guy, according to the Harvard Law School professor.There is a Rev.Cochran was the people's lawyer according to Jesse Jackson.Cochran was known for representing O. J. and Michael, but he was bigger and better than that.[5]

"If it doesn't fit, you must acquit," Cochran said during closing arguments.He used the phrase to try to convince the jury that Simpson could not have committed the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.The bloodied glove that Simpson was trying to get on was found at the crime scene.

Simpson was found liable for the deaths in the civil trial, but Cochran did not represent him.Cochran was criticized for suggesting that the police were trying to frame Simpson because he was black.Cochran was able to convince the jury that the police planted evidence against Simpson.[5]

Robert Shapiro, co-counsel on the Simpson defense team, accused Cochran of dealing the "race card" from the bottom of the deck.Cochran noted that there were a lot of white people who were willing to accept the verdict.[25]

A Haitian immigrant living in Brooklyn who was sodomized with a broken broomstick by an officer while in police custody was represented by Cochran.The largest police brutality settlement in New York City was awarded to Louima.There was tension between Louima's original lawyers and the new team.Cochran and his colleagues were trying to take control of the trial according to the former team.[25]

In 2001, Sean was indicted on a number of charges.Cochran was hired for his defense.Cochran fought for Combs' freedom and he was acquitted.[26]

Cochran told Combs that this would be his last criminal case.Cochran stopped working after the trial.R. Kelly asked for his services in criminal cases, but he wouldn't represent them.[2]

Stanley Tookie Williams was defended by Johnnie Cochran in a robbery trial.Williams was a member of the street gang.Williams was acquitted of all charges in less than 10 minutes.

Williams was acquitted with Johnnie Cochran as his counsel after he was arrested for assault.[28]

Michael Jackson was accused of child molesting.The case was settled by Michael Jackson and his accuser.

Cochran was diagnosed with a brain tumor in December of 2003He stayed away from the media after undergoing surgery.He told the New York Post that he was in good health.[8][29]

He died of a brain tumor at his home in Los Angeles.The public viewing of his casket was held at the Angelus Funeral Home and the Second Baptist Church in Los Angeles.On April 6, 2005, a memorial service was held at the West Angeles Church of God in Christ.His remains were buried in a cemetery in California.O.J. was one of the former friends and clients who attended the funeral.Simpson and Jackson.[4][30]

Two months after Cochran's death, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered its opinion on the case.In light of Cochran's death, the court ruled that the injunction limiting the demonstrations was excessive.Cochran's death made it unnecessary for the court to rule, according to two justices.The lower courts held that no public comments could be made about Cochran.[31]