Johnnie Cochran

“If you commit perjury in a so-called first-degree murder case, and you're caught red-handed for the entire world to see, and you get only a $200 fine, what kind of message does that send about lying in our courts?”

“I'm from the South, where if you walk down the street and there's somebody behind you talking with a Southern accent, you can't tell whether it's a black or a white person.”

“Money will determine whether the accused goes to prison or walks out of the courtroom a free man.”

“Jurors want courtroom lawyers to have some compassion and be nice.”

“I understand about this idea of terror and what it means to Americans and this idea that we can't just walk around free like we did; life has changed.”

“Since the Puffy Combs case in New York, I will not try any more criminal cases.”

“The president appoints the judges. Your lives and your children's lives can change by all of these appellate court judges who will be appointed who will reinterpret laws, and things can change.”

“If it doen't make sense, you should find for the defense.”

“I decided I wanted to be a lawyer when I was 11 years of age.”

“In this room we're all here together, but there's probably a lot of different views, people sitting here thinking, I don't own any slaves, all the slaves are dead. Why am I responsible? My family were immigrants, too.”

“We've got to be judged by how we do in times of crisis.”

“An opening statement is like a guide or a road map. It's a very delicate thing.”

“I'm a big believer in the fact that life is about preparation, preparation, preparation.”

“If it doesn't fit, you must acquit.”

“On January 10, 1963, I was sworn in as a lawyer, so next January 10 I will have practiced law for 40 years, and I've loved every minute of it.”

“Black jurors sit on juries every day and convict black people every day.”