Cochran continues crusade for justice

The media remains fixed on the O.J. trial but defense counsel Johnnie Cochran has moved on.

America's best known defense lawyer writes about the trial of the century and its outcomes for him in an enthralling look at this rapper of consequential rhymes, the autobiographical "A Lawyer's Life" (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press, Oct. 2002).

Happily for the goal of establishing a more democratized social order, his passion as a litigator has been ignited by numerous other cases since. First up, he got involved in representing Latrell Sprewell of the Golden State Warriors whose contract had been severed for an aberrant infraction which was going to cost the basketball star $25 million.

Then came the Abner Louima personal injury/police brutality case, carried out in a new city for Cochran, New York. Some changes that likely occurred because of the success of the defense include the creation of a civilian panel rather than one comprised of members of the NYPD to prosecute police brutality, and improved training procedures concerning the use of force.

Police brutality cases have been a specialty of Cochran, who had been a longtime resident of L.A., since the mid-1960s when the court battles he waged were fought far from the glare of TV lights. These days, as in the case of the killing of Amadou Diallo by four white police officers, there are public demonstrations and newspaper headlines. Madame Diallo, Amadou's mother, asks Cochran to take on the case against the NYPD officers.

To identify only two more of many significant cases, you will also read of how an infuriated Cochran takes on the public transit system and a shopping mall in Buffalo, New York in the case of the death of part-time worker Cynthia Wiggins, a teen mom. A case involving racial profiling on the New Jersey turnpike put that phrase firmly in the public consciousness.

Cochran's prowess as a defense attorney has amazed people. "A Lawyer's Life" displays another astonishing facet to this legal prudence giant as reading along you realize how the outcomes of his cases have alleviated so many injustices of our times.

The motivation for police misconduct in these cases is likely not a puzzle for the victims who clearly sense they are being seen through the prism of race or as "the other." This entrenched twist of the psyche is at the heart of what Cochran is battling in the courtroom. Little wonder he is such a passionate litigator.

Poet Lucille Clifton describes it very well in a piece she entitles "Powell," named for one of the officers who beat Rodney King.

She writes as if Powell were speaking: "This is that dream I wake from crying...something about my life they know and hate and I hate them for knowing it so well...and, as they surround me nearer, nearer I reach to pick up anything - a tool, a stick, a weapon - and something begins to die." The poem quoted from appears in the most recent issue of "Callaloo" magazine (Vol. 25, No.4).

A heavy shower late in the morning on Veterans Day had surprised the guests at the Ritz Carlton who shook off raindrops as they plunged into the swank lobby. Lloyd Hart, owner of the Black Library Booksellers, and this writer were early for our meeting with Johnnie Cochran, who had stopped in Boston as part of a tour promoting his book.

At exactly to the minute of our appointment, the sharply dressed Mr. Cochran stepped off the elevator easily recognizing us as we waved copies of his book in his direction. A helpful hotel employee showed us to a private room on the mezzanine level so we could talk uninterrupted.

The three of us sat around a small table with Mr. Cochran pleasantly open to any question we might have. Many of the topics were provided by Hart, who mans a book kiosk on wheels in Downtown Crossing where he talks books to customers every day.

In response to Hart's query about what Johnnie Cochran thinks about being a black man in this society, Mr. Cochran began his response by referring to a book published a century ago. He knew passages of the book by heart. "In 1903, W. E. B. DuBois in his "Souls of Black Folk" addressed that issue," said the modern day lawyer. "He wrote about functioning with two souls, two thoughts, two warring ideals.

"Only inner strength keeps you from being torn asunder," Cochran said.

"To be successful you have to have a dual consciousness and be mindful of both people (that you are) and remain true to both," he said.

Hart was also interested in hearing from Cochran about where he thinks the real power of the African American lies. "That's changed somewhat," replied Cochran. "The black church was a great repository of our strength, but maybe not so much now as in the past.

"When Dr. King came to town, the black church was the golden place, now we're not (so apt to meet there).

"I would hope, along with the church, that the African American family unit would be the source of strength.

"If we don't have our unity, and with America so evenly divided as the last (presidential) election showed, we are weakened. We could carry the day. We're making a serious mistake not to seize the power we could have," he said.

The topic changed to Mr. Cochran's reading habits. "Reading has all along enhanced my desires," he said.

??? he was eleven years old ???wing up in the Louisiana countryside, Cochran became fascinated by the crusading attorney Thurgood Marshall, whom he read about. He tracked down and pored over important cases that the civil rights lawyer carried out despite the danger to himself.

"I could read about what I didn't see around me," Cochran said. "I could visualize what I wanted to be. I could dream about it."

Photograph (Johnnie Cochran with Lloyd Hart)