Criminal charges are serious and anyone who is convicted will have a permanent record of their crimes for the rest of their life. More than 1.1 million people in Ohio have a conviction for driving while impaired, and this can result in jail time from three days to six months. It’s important to consult with some of the the best criminal defense attorneys if you hope to avoid a conviction. If you’re interested in learning more about some famous defense attorneys, keep reading to learn about the top criminal lawyers of our time.
Johnnie Cochran (1937 – 2005)
Cochran was a well known and respected lawyer who is best known for his role as the lead defense attorney for O.J. Simpson. Simpson was accused of murdering two people in 1994 and it was widely believed by the media and public that he would be found guilty, but Cochran and his team provided a top quality defense that resulted in Simpson’s acquittal. Cochran was also associated with several other celebrity clients, including Michael Jackson, Snoop Dogg, Tupac, and Sean (“P. Diddy”) Combs.
The rich and famous sought Cochran’s council and paid a high price for his legal services, because he was known to have a high rate of success with clients. Cochran didn’t only defend the wealthy — he enjoyed working on cases involving civil rights and police brutality — and he often served as a defense attorney free of charge for those who could not afford to pay. His controversial clients and variable mix of cases earned Cochran a reputation as one of the best criminal defense attorneys in present day.
Gloria Allred (1941 – )
Allred is known for her work on civil rights cases. She runs one of the top criminal defense firms in the nation, and they handle employment law cases such as wrongful termination, sexual harassment and employment discrimination. Allred tends to take on clients who are suing celebrities, and she has gone up against people such as Tommy Lee, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Herman Cain.
Allred is known for her loud voice in the media and she often comments on public events. In 2002, she contacted California’s Child Protective Services to suggest that someone look into Michael Jackson’s home and the safety of his children after the pop star dangled his infant son from a hotel balcony. In 2012, she publicly denounced Rush Limbaugh for making inappropriate and sexist comments about Sandra Fluke, who was an advocate for women’s rights and access to healthcare. Allred’s outspoken nature and desire for gender equality earned her a spot as a regular contributor on cable news, where she provides legal opinions on high profile cases.
Mark Geragos (1957 – )
Geragos is a well known criminal justice lawyer who has defended clients opposite Gloria Allred several times. He represented Michael Jackson, Scott Peterson and Chris Brown. Brown was charged with assaulting his then girlfriend, pop singer Rihanna, and Brown pled guilty after Geragos negotiated a plea deal with the prosecutor.
In 2003, Geragos was busy defending Jackson and Peterson simultaneously. Jackson was the defendant in a case accusing him of child molestation, and Geragos was replaced by another lawyer when his workload became too much. Peterson was accused of murdering his wife, Laci Peterson, and despite Geragos’ reputation as one of the best criminal defense attorneys in the nation, Peterson was convicted and sentenced to death. Geragos is still regarded as a highly skilled lawyer, and he continues to be sought after by celebrities and wealthy clients.
