IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 185 

Honoring Johnnie Cochran, Jr. for his service to the Nation, and expressing 

condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and admirers on his death. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 5, 2005 

Ms. WATERS (for herself, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. HONDA, Ms. CORRINE

BROWN of Florida, Ms. CARSON, Mr. OWENS, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, 

Ms. WATSON, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. SCOTT of 

Virginia, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Ms. NORTON, Mr. 

FATTAH, Mr. CLAY, Ms. LEE, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, 

Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mrs. JONES of Ohio, Mr. 

WATT, Mr. RUSH, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. WYNN, Mr. SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. 

CONYERS, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. RANGEL, Ms. MILLENDERMCDONALD, Mr. CLEAVER, Ms. MCKINNEY, and Mr. DAVIS of Illinois) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring Johnnie Cochran, Jr. for his service to the Nation, 

and expressing condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and admirers on his death. 

Whereas Johnnie Cochran, Jr., was born Oct. 2, 1937, in 

Shreveport, Louisiana, the great-grandson of slaves, the 

grandson of a sharecropper and the son of an insurance 

salesman; 
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•HRES 185 IH 

Whereas Johnnie Cochran, Jr., came to Los Angeles, California, with his family in 1949, and became one of two 

dozen black students integrated into Los Angeles High 

School in the 1950s; 

Whereas, until his death from a brain tumor on March 29, 

2005, Johnnie Cochran, Jr., was an extraordinary human 

being and a trial lawyer of exceptional ability; 

Whereas Johnnie Cochran, Jr., earned an undergraduate degree from the University of California at Los Angeles in 

1959 and a law degree from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles in 1962; 

Whereas Johnnie Cochran, Jr., began his legal career in 

1963, spending two years practicing law in the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office; 

Whereas, for five years from 1978 to 1983, Johnnie Cochran, 

Jr., again worked as a prosecutor, serving as an Assistant District Attorney in the Los Angeles County Attorney’s Office; 

Whereas, upon leaving the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office, 

Johnnie Cochran, Jr., started his own law firm where, for 

a period spanning a total of over 35 years, he brought 

his tremendous analytical and oratorical skills to both 

criminal defense work and civil cases, including civil 

rights, contracts, environmental justice, and personal injury cases, on behalf of all kinds of clients, from the famous and powerful to the unknown and the voiceless; 

Whereas Johnnie Cochran, Jr., dedicated his life and his 

legal career, often on a pro bono basis, to advancing the 

cause of equal access to justice for all persons regardless 

of their station in life, to overcoming unfairness and police brutality in the criminal justice system, and to ensur-
3 

•HRES 185 IH 

ing equal opportunities in all walks of life for persons of 

color; 

Whereas, with all of his many achievements, Johnnie Cochran, Jr., called ‘‘. . . the happiest day of my life practicing law . . .’’, the day in 1997 when his tireless, tenacious efforts helped to secure the release of his client, 

Elmer ‘‘Geronimo’’ Pratt, who spent 27 years in prison 

for a crime that he didn’t commit; 

Whereas, through a lifetime of dedicated service, personal integrity, and professional excellence, Johnnie Cochran, Jr., 

set an example and became a role model for many aspiring African-American professionals and other professionals throughout America; 

Whereas Johnnie Cochran, Jr.’s tremendous successes as a 

trial lawyer practicing on a world stage caused many people to view the abilities of minority professionals more 

positively; 

Whereas Johnnie Cochran Jr.’s pioneering work as a lawyer 

helped to open the door to many more ‘‘first-chair’’ opportunities for minority lawyers and other professionals; 

Whereas Johnnie Cochran, Jr., was a widely-known and admired person whose fame caused him to be mentioned, 

and also often parodied, in many television shows and 

movies; and 

Whereas Johnnie Cochran, Jr., also was a best-selling author, 

a successful television host and legal commentator, a 

highly sought-after public speaker, and a philanthropist 

whose generosity helped fund a University of California 

at Los Angeles scholarship, a low-income housing complex, and a New Jersey legal academy, among many 

other charitable endeavors: Now, therefore, be it 
4 

•HRES 185 IH 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) honors Johnnie Cochran, Jr., for his service 

3 to the Nation, his pioneering work as a lawyer, au4 thor, TV commentator, and philanthropist, and his 

5 personal integrity and professional excellence; and 

6 (2) expresses its deepest condolences to his 

7 family, friends, colleagues, and admirers. 

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