John Burris facts for kids

John Leonard Burris (born May 8, 1945) is an American lawyer. He is known for helping people who have been treated unfairly, especially in cases involving police departments. His law firm also helps with jobs, personal injuries, and housing issues.

John Burris became well-known when he represented Rodney King. Mr. King had a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Police Department, and John Burris helped him win $3.8 million. Since then, Burris has worked on many important cases against police departments in California. One famous case was the "Oakland Riders" case. In this case, some officers in Oakland Police Department were found to have done wrong things. John Burris helped the people involved, and the case settled for $10.9 million. This led to the government watching over the Oakland Police Department to make sure things are fair.

Burris has also represented famous people like Tupac Shakur, Latrell Sprewell, Gary Payton, Keyshawn Johnson, and Barry Bonds.

Early Life and Education

John Burris was born in May 1945 in Vallejo, California. He went to Vallejo High School and finished in 1963. He later studied at Solano Community College.

He earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Golden Gate University. Then, he went to University of California, Berkeley for more studies. He earned a business degree (MBA) in 1970 and a law degree (Juris Doctor) in 1973. After law school, he worked for a law firm in Chicago. He became a member of the California Bar in 1976, which means he was officially allowed to practice law in California.

Career as a Lawyer

John Burris started working on cases involving police treatment in 1979. He wrote a book in 1999 called Blue vs. Black. This book talks about problems where police might treat African-Americans unfairly.

Burris has helped many people and won millions of dollars in hundreds of lawsuits. These cases often involved people who felt they were treated wrongly by the police. For example, he helped Rodney King win $3.8 million. He also helped Tupac Shakur in a case that settled for $42,000.

Personal Life

John Burris is married to Cheryl Amana-Burris. She is a law professor at North Carolina Central University. They live in Oakland Hills, Oakland, California.

Awards and Honors

John Burris has received many awards for his work and his help in the community. Some of these include:

• The Dr. Huey P. Newton Trail Blazer & Legacy Award in 2018.
• An Education and Community Service Award from Mount Zion Baptist Church Scholarship Foundation in 2018.
• The National Bar Association Hall of Fame Inductee in 2017.
• The California Legislative Black Caucus Civil Rights Leadership Award in 2017.
• The Eddie Walker Foundation's Life Time Achievement Award for Social Justice in 2016.
• The Bishop Richard Allen Award for Excellence in Social Justice in 2016.
• The Saint Leo School “The Great Hero Award” in 2015.
• The National Bar Association Vince Monroe Townsend Legacy Award in 2015.
• The National Bar Association's C. Francis Stradford Award, which is the highest award given by that association.
• The Arthur A. Fletcher Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.
• The Courage Award from the Civil Rights Concert Series in 2007.
• The Clinton White Outstanding Trial Advocacy Award in 2003.
• The Peace and Justice Award from California State University in 2003.