Leo Branton Jr., the lawyer who defended civil rights activist Angela Davis in her 1972 ground-breaking murder case, died of natural causes on April 19th in Los Angeles. Branton was 91 years old when he passed and the news was announced by Branton’s son, Tony Nicholas.
Branton also represented the Platters, Miles Davis and Richard Pryor. Later he helped singer Nat King Cole integrate into a wealthy Los Angeles neighborhood of Hancock Park, and won various police misconduct cases.
Connie Rice, a Los Angeles civil rights attorney who helped lead the efforts to reform the LAPD after the Rodney King beating told the Times, “he was a hero of mine”
Angela Davis told the Times on Thursday that Branton was instrumental in the decision of the jury in her 1972 case.
