Loyola Law School honors Samuel Paz with the Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. Public Service Award
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles honored civil rights activist and trial attorney Samuel Paz with the Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. Public Service Award. The Cochran Award is presented annually to an individual who embodies the qualities of Loyola alumnus Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. '62, who was known as a trailblazer, innovator, master attorney and mentor. Recipients of this award have demonstrated excellence in their profession, dedication to social justice and a commitment to serving their community. "Samuel Paz represents everything that Johnnie Cochran held dear: compassion, courage and the drive to stand up for other peoples’ rights,” said Gary Williams, Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. Professor of Civil Rights at Loyola. “I can think of no one more deserving of this award.” Paz specializes in the litigation of civil rights claims related to alleged police misconduct. His victories include the first substantial civil award against a police department for illegal spying activities and a $2,000,000 award with orders enjoining the LAPD from the illegal collection of information on community and political organizations. He is the vice president of the National Police Accountability Project, a non-profit dedicated to ending police misconduct. At the reception, the California Bar Foundation presented a $15,000 grant to the Law School for the Judge Stephen O’Neil Trial Advocacy Mentoring Program (better known as the Young Lawyers Program).