"Certainly, Johnnie's career will be noted as one marked by 'celebrity' cases and clientele," his family said in a statement. "But he and his family were most proud of the work he did on behalf of those in the community."

While Cochran was best known for defending celebrities like Simpon, Jim Brown, Todd Bridges, Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur, he built his career championing civil rights and using his legal muscle to go after police departments that were suspected of abusing black suspects. One of his proudest victories in that field came in 1981 when he won a $760,000 wrongful death judgment for the family of Ron Settles, a black college football player who died in police custody. 

Cochran was also instrumental in earning former Black Panther Elmer "Geronimo" Pratt his freedom after Pratt spent 27 years in prison for a murder he did not commit.