High Court Appears Unsympathetic to Cochran's Plight

By Tony Mauro, Special to First Amendment Center Online

WASHINGTON � It looks like famed lawyer Johnnie Cochran won't be ridding himself of his personal nemesis anytime soon.

The Supreme Court appeared roundly unsympathetic yesterday [Tuesday 3/22] as a lawyer for Cochran tried to defend an injunction issued by a California judge against Ulysses Tory, a disgruntled former client who picketed outside Cochran's Los Angeles office with signs describing him as a liar, cheat and worse.

The injunction bars Tory, along with his agents and representatives, from picketing or even speaking about Cochran in any public forum, apparently forever. A California appeals court upheld the injunction and Tory, backed by numerous press and free-speech organizations, asked the Supreme Court to strike it down in Tory v. Cochran.

Details here from the First Amendment Center.