John Burris
Encyclopedia
John Leonard Burris is an American
civil rights
attorney, based in Oakland, California
, known for his work in police brutality
cases representing plaintiffs.
He briefly represented Rodney King
in his suit against the Los Angeles Police Department
and is most recently noted for filing a civil suit over the BART Police shooting of Oscar Grant
. Burris also represented controversial basketball star Latrell Sprewell
. Burris has appeared as a legal commentator on MSNBC, CNN, and other cable and local television networks.
Burris received his Juris Doctor
(J.D.
) from Boalt Hall (UC Berkeley School of Law
) in 1973, worked for Chicago law firm Jenner & Block
out of law school, and became a member of the California bar in 1976. Burris's work in police brutality cases began in 1979 when he was an investigator in the district attorney's office working on the case of the killing of 14-year-old Melvin Black. Burris's 1999 book, Blue vs. Black, is about the problem of police brutality against African-Americans.
Burris is married to Cheryl Amana, a law professor at North Carolina Central University
.
and a $42,000 settlement in a suit brought on behalf of Tupac Shakur
. He won a number of large settlements against the city of Oakland, California
, including the city's largest settlement, $10.9 million for planting evidence in the "Oakland Riders" case.
Brandon T., a six-year-old Richmond, California
boy accused of and prosecuted for attempted murder
of an infant, in a crime that made national news.
In 1996, Rodney King sued Burris and two other attorneys, accusing them of trying to defraud King out of his rightful share of recovery from a multi-million-dollar jury verdict against Los Angeles; a court ruled that King's suit was not brought within the statute of limitations
.
In 2005, federal judge Vaughn R. Walker
fined Burris $10,800 for filing a meritless lawsuit without adequately investigating the claims of his clients, but the California state bar took no disciplinary action in response to the judge's referral.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
attorney, based in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, known for his work in police brutality
Police brutality
Police brutality is the intentional use of excessive force, usually physical, but potentially also in the form of verbal attacks and psychological intimidation, by a police officer....
cases representing plaintiffs.
He briefly represented Rodney King
Rodney King
Rodney Glen King is an American best known for his involvement in a police brutality case involving the Los Angeles Police Department on March 3, 1991...
in his suit against the Los Angeles Police Department
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
and is most recently noted for filing a civil suit over the BART Police shooting of Oscar Grant
BART Police shooting of Oscar Grant
Oscar Grant was fatally shot by BART police officer Johannes Mehserle in Oakland, California, United States, in the early morning hours of New Year's Day 2009. Responding to reports of a fight on a crowded Bay Area Rapid Transit train returning from San Francisco, BART Police officers detained...
. Burris also represented controversial basketball star Latrell Sprewell
Latrell Sprewell
Latrell Fontaine Sprewell is a former American professional basketball player. During his time as a professional, Sprewell was named to the NBA All-Star game during four seasons, and played for the Golden State Warriors, the New York Knicks, and the Minnesota Timberwolves...
. Burris has appeared as a legal commentator on MSNBC, CNN, and other cable and local television networks.
Burris received his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
(J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
) from Boalt Hall (UC Berkeley School of Law
UC Berkeley School of Law
The University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, commonly referred to as Berkeley Law and Boalt Hall, is one of 14 schools and colleges at the University of California, Berkeley. Berkeley Law is consistently regarded as an elite and prestigious law school...
) in 1973, worked for Chicago law firm Jenner & Block
Jenner & Block
Jenner & Block is a U.S. law firm with offices in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC. Approximately 450 attorneys serve a wide range of clients in corporate litigation, business transactions, and in the public sector. Jerold S. Solovy was the longtime Chair of the firm, but on Sept...
out of law school, and became a member of the California bar in 1976. Burris's work in police brutality cases began in 1979 when he was an investigator in the district attorney's office working on the case of the killing of 14-year-old Melvin Black. Burris's 1999 book, Blue vs. Black, is about the problem of police brutality against African-Americans.
Burris is married to Cheryl Amana, a law professor at North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University is a public historically black university in the University of North Carolina system, located in Durham, North Carolina, offering programs at the baccalaureate, master’s, professional and doctoral levels....
.
Success in court
Burris "has earned millions of dollars" in hundreds of police brutality and high-profile lawsuits, including a $3.8 million verdict for Rodney KingRodney King
Rodney Glen King is an American best known for his involvement in a police brutality case involving the Los Angeles Police Department on March 3, 1991...
and a $42,000 settlement in a suit brought on behalf of Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
. He won a number of large settlements against the city of Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, including the city's largest settlement, $10.9 million for planting evidence in the "Oakland Riders" case.
In re Brandon T.
In 1996 Burris defended pro bonoPro bono
Pro bono publico is a Latin phrase generally used to describe professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment or at a reduced fee as a public service. It is common in the legal profession and is increasingly seen in marketing, technology, and strategy consulting firms...
Brandon T., a six-year-old Richmond, California
Richmond, California
Richmond is a city in western Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city was incorporated on August 7, 1905. It is located in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a residential inner suburb of San Francisco, as well as the site of heavy industry, which has been...
boy accused of and prosecuted for attempted murder
Attempted murder
Attempted murder is a crime in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.-Today:In English criminal law, attempted murder is the crime of more than merely preparing to commit unlawful killing and at the same time having a specific intention to cause the death of human being under the Queen's Peace...
of an infant, in a crime that made national news.
Legal troubles
Burris's license to practice law was suspended for disciplinary reasons for thirty days in 1996.In 1996, Rodney King sued Burris and two other attorneys, accusing them of trying to defraud King out of his rightful share of recovery from a multi-million-dollar jury verdict against Los Angeles; a court ruled that King's suit was not brought within the statute of limitations
Statute of limitations
A statute of limitations is an enactment in a common law legal system that sets the maximum time after an event that legal proceedings based on that event may be initiated...
.
In 2005, federal judge Vaughn R. Walker
Vaughn R. Walker
Vaughn R. Walker served as a district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California from 1989 to 2011.-Biography:Walker was born in Watseka, Illinois, in 1944...
fined Burris $10,800 for filing a meritless lawsuit without adequately investigating the claims of his clients, but the California state bar took no disciplinary action in response to the judge's referral.