Johnnie Cochran

Johnnie Cochran An Outlier By Ryan Starr Johnnie Cochran was an infamous American honoryer, who gained recognition from his gameyly publicized and controversial types as a booming plea attorney. Born as an African-American on October 2, 1937 in Shreveport, Louisiana, Cochran grew up facing extreme racial prejudice and l realize valuable heart experience at a young age (Cochran record 1). go a deaf ear to discrimination, Cochran did well in condition and got practiced grades. His father and puzzle ever stressed statement, and Cochran learned to apply himself at various public develops (Cochran feel story 1).His ability to succeed was, in part, due to a more accepting community in Los Angeles, where Cochran spent al close of his later childhood (Cochran 12). Johnnie Cochran was not poor by any standards his popping had a stable and well-paying job in life insurance (Cochran life 1). However, Cochran was k at a timen to envision himself with more money and the possi bilities thereafter. He would often attach richer classmates in order to experience a more luxurious modus vivendi (Cochran Biography 1). Johnnie Cochran understood that life-threatening work and his natural people skills allowed him to combine well with his rich friends.Unaware of his wildly, winnerful future, Cochran would first have to discover a field in which his skills and opportunities could be utilized. Johnnie Cochrans adherence to the 10,000 hour rule, his impression to meaningful work, and his ability to express what he wanted all incite Gladwells theory of what defines an outlier. Without these qualities, Johnnie Cochran would have never been one of Americas best lawyers. Furthermore, the opportunities that allowed Cochran to achieve and acknowledge these qualities provided him with the proud status of a unusual outlier. Johnnie Cochran Jr. as named after his father and grew up in a stable household with loving parents. Education became a philosophy for success and was clearly ingrained in Cochran at early age (Cochran 11). His hard work ethic proved to serve him well in grade-school and resulted in his acceptance to the University of California in 1959 (Cochran Biography 1). Cochran loved to argue and al dashs knew he wanted to be a lawyer. Excelling in high school debate, Cochran recalls the incredible surge of power and satisfaction he felt when he made a strong argument and dragged people over to his side of the question (Cochran 11).His protoactinium always supported an environment in which Cochran could express his views, but his commence would not tolerate any misbehavior. As a hardworking businessman himself, Cochrans father always pushed his children to work their hardest in order to area their full potential (Cochran 11). Opportunities to practice debating at both school and at home provided Cochran with the basis for 10,000 hours of practice as a lawyer (Gladwell ). Johnnie Cochran receive with a Bachelor of Science degree in business government activity and went on to pursue his doctorate in law at Loyola truth School (Cochran Biography 1).Cochrans first job outside of school was as a deputy city attorney, defending the city in a small claims court. Winning around fifteen cases in row, Cochran was very pleased with himself. After losing his first case, Cochran realized that any attorney who has spent considerable time in a courtroom has lost cases and that he was no exception (Cochran 15). Losing a few cases did not mean Cochran was blighted a lawyer on the contrary, his loses solely signified his experience in lawsuits. Johnnie Cochran was on his way to mastering a career in law after facing hundreds of juries as a city attorney and shortly afterward as a criminal lawyer.Eventually, Johnnie Cochran would found his own firm, Cochran, Atkins & Evans (Cochran Biography 1). By then, he had gained significantly north of 10,000 hours practicing law. From debate in high school, to passing the bar, and pr osecuting endless traffic violations, Johnnie Cochrans experience was evident, and his success was unquestionably due to his early, painstaking years studying and practicing law. Little did he know, his new mastery would be tested with a highly publicized case. The family of Leonard Deadwyler, a man killed by Los Angeles practice of law, approached Cochrans firm in 1966.The family accused the police of needless brutality after their son attempted to speed his significant wife to the hospital. Cochran agreed to defend the family, despite the Police Department press that the officers had acted in self-defense (Cochran Biography 1). The lawsuit was not successful. Johnnie Cochran had discovered a flaw in the American legal system regarding the bias toward prosecuting minorities. This case and others, including a Black Panther accused of score, led to a deeper, face-to-face mission for Johnnie Cochran (DeClamecy). He wished to upheave the injustice of minority prosecution, nd he would do so in great numbers. He soon earned himself the title Best in the West according to Ebony magazine. (Cochran Biography 1). Johnnie Cochran had always been inspired by the struggle for racial peerity, but now he had the opportunity to partake in such a struggle. support minorities from unjust prosecutions became meaningful work. His job as a criminal defense lawyer served a greater purpose, to protect the rights of African-Americans. This platform would soon survive Cochrans journey to fame and provides further evidence to describe the characteristics of a trustworthy outlier.Johnnie Cochran was enveloped in his work because of its personal importance. Meaningful work, as described by Malcolm Gladwell, was yet another factor guiding Cochran closer to success. When Johnnie Cochran was 16 years, a decision made by the Supreme Court would change his life forever. Thurgood Marshall, a black lawyer, argued against the Jim Crow laws that legalized separate but equal faciliti es in 1954. The court favored his case and concluded that separate but equal was inherently unequal (Cochran 11). Johnnie Cochran idolized Marshall and therefore wished to follow in his footsteps as a lawyer.Cochrans destiny was set. He knew that a wizard dedicated man could use the law to change ships company (Cochran 10). Johnnie Cochran was most definitely motivated to partake in this meaningful work. But first, he needed to be able to express what he wanted. Opportunities present themselves in odd ways, and as it so happens, one must have exceeding communication skills in order to become a successful lawyer. Achieving such skills wasnt difficult for the personable Johnnie Cochran, who also had the benefits of a good education and supportive family.As the great grandson of slaves, Johnnie Cochran learned to express what he wanted or be overlooked by a largely white society (Cochran 10). Despite Cochrans upbringing in the poorly educated projects of California, his mother taugh t him the value of the English language and the importance of using it correctly to form himself heard (Cochran 11). And Cochran would not forget this advice, using his command of the language to call down himself in the field of law and to win his first case convince his mother to accept his career in law rather than medicine.Cochran was sensory faculty at integrating and communicating, both of which were useful characteristics for any outlier. Opportunities spawned from these abilities and provided Cochran with a way to change society. Johnnie Cochran eventually represented numerous celebrities such as Sean Combs, Michael Jackson, Tupac and betray Dogg (Deutsch 1). His firm focused on cases involving police brutality and racial bias. He is best known for the captivating defense of OJ Simpson regarding the murder of his wife and her friend, claiming that if the murders glove doesnt fit, you must acquit (DeClamecy 1).Johnnie Cochran has been criticized for taking receipts of a mostly black jury by suggesting the possibility of the police framing Simpson because of his skin color (Merida). Whether or not OJ Simpson is guilty of murder, Johnnie Cochran was an extraordinary and prosperous lawyer. Malcolm Gladwell defines the qualities of a successful outlier, and Johnnie Cochran proved that a combination of tenaciousness and opportunities give lead to success. Johnnie Cochran died March 29, 2005 at the age of 67, but will forever be remembered as a unique outlier (Deutsch 1). Works Cited Cochran, Johnnie L. , and David Fisher. A Lawyers Life.New York Thomas Dunne /St. Martins, 2002. Print. DeClamecy, Dree. Famed Attorney Johnnie Cochran Dead. CNN. Cable News Network, 30 Mar. 2005. Web. 17 Apr. 2013. Gladwell, Malcolm. Outliers. New York Little, Brown and Company, 2008. Print. Merida, Kevin. Johnnie Cochran, the Attorney On the Peoples Defense Team. Washington Post. N. p. , 31 Mar. 2005. Web. Nguyen, Daisy. Famous Clients Mourn Johnnie Cochran at Funera l in LA. The Daily Transcript. San Diego Source, 6 Apr. 2005. Web. 17 Apr. 2013 The Biography Channel. Johnnie Cochran Biography. Bio. com. A&E Networks Television, n. d. Web. 17 Apr. 2013.