J. Richard Cohen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids J. Richard Cohen
Cohen in 2017
Born	Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
Alma mater	Columbia University (BA) University of Virginia (JD)
Occupation	Civil rights lawyer
Known for	Former president of the Southern Poverty Law Center

J. Richard Cohen is an American lawyer who spent many years working to make sure everyone is treated fairly. He was the leader of an important group called the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) from 1986 to 2019.

J. Richard Cohen's Story

Early Life and Education

J. Richard Cohen was born and grew up in Richmond, Virginia. His father had a business that decorated homes, and his mother worked as a legal secretary.

When he was in high school, a new system called "crosstown busing" started in Richmond. This meant students from different parts of the city would ride buses to schools to help integrate them. Richard Cohen convinced his parents to let him go to a public school instead of a private one. He even finished high school a year early.

After high school, he went to Columbia University and graduated in 1976. Later, he studied law at the University of Virginia School of Law, finishing in 1979.

Fighting for Civil Rights

Growing up in the South helped shape Cohen's path to becoming a civil rights lawyer. A civil rights lawyer works to protect the basic rights and freedoms of all people.

After law school, Cohen worked as a lawyer in Washington, D.C. for seven years. In 1986, he moved to Montgomery, Alabama, and became the legal director for the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). The SPLC is a group that fights for civil rights and works against hate and injustice.

Soon after joining the SPLC, Cohen had to argue a case in front of the Supreme Court of the United States. This is the highest court in the country. The case was about whether Alabama state troopers should promote Black troopers at the same rate as white troopers.

As the SPLC's general counsel, Cohen worked on many important cases. He took legal action against groups that promoted hate and inequality. He also defended people's civil rights.

In 1997, a magazine called The American Lawyer recognized Cohen as one of the top public lawyers. They said his vision and dedication were changing lives. He was also a finalist for a national award for his work on a lawsuit about the burning of the Macedonia Baptist Church.

In 2003, J. Richard Cohen became the president of the SPLC. He stepped down from this role in 2019.