Talking about the obstacles posed to the defense by Judge Lance A. Ito, Cochran said, "He denied almost every motion [made by the defense], but we kept our eyes on the prize."

He then turned to the law students in the audience to say, "If you're knocked down in court, you get back up; you're resilient."

Cochran concluded by saying that he hoped that "Ultimately, the American sense of consciousness will come to the fore."

Civil Suit

In a press conference held immediately after the speech, Cochran said the civil trial Simpson now faces would be very different from the criminal trial.

"There's so much information that the public hasn't heard about yet that I think will, be very relevant in the whole civil background," Cochran said, according to the Associated Press.

He said Bob Baker had been appointed to handle the civil suits now being filed against Simpson.

While Cochran said that he "understood" the basis behind the suit the Goldman family is filing, he was "troubled" by the suit being filed by the family of Nicole Brown Simpson on behalf of the children of O.J. Simpson and Nicole Brown Simpson.

Cochran said O.J. Simpson and the defense team were pursuing several investigative leads to bring the murderer or murderers to justice, but that the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office was not making similar attempts.

Cochran's speech was part of a Law School Saturday Speaker Series run by Professor of Law Charles J. Ogletree.

Eddie Jenkins, President of the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association, presented Cochran with a poster commemorating this year's 150th anniversary of the swearing in of the first African American lawyer to the bar.

In reference to Cochran's role as lead defense attorney in the Simpson trial, Jenkins said, "For every second that ticked [during the trial], things changed in America for the Black Lawyer."

Cambridge Mayor Kenneth E. Reeves '72 made a similar presentation in which he described Cochran as an exemplary role model for all lawyers.

Saying that Cochran held "the key to our hearts and minds," Reeves presented Cochran with a key to the city of Cambridge.

"If you make the call for justice, Johnnie Cochran will come," Reeves said, referring to Cochran's role in Reginald Denny's trial and his assistance to Michael Jackson and rap artist Snoop Doggy Dog