Leo Branton Jr. was born February 17, 1922 in Pine Bluff, Ark. The Tennessee State University graduate and World War II veteran became the Northwestern University School of Law’s first Black graduate in 1948. Relocating to California, Branton opened the first Black-owned law practice in the state.
In the early 1950’s, Branton worked alongside civil rights attorney Charles Garry in an attempt to get Robert Wesley Wells, a Black man placed on death row for assaulting a prison guard while currently serving a life sentence. Wells was granted clemency in 1954 based on Branton’s and Garry’s efforts.
As an entertainment lawyer, Branton worked for the likes of Nat King Cole, Dorothy Dandrige, Richard Pryor, Miles Davis and the estate of Jimi Hendrix among others. He was also key he defending members of the Black Panther Party in the late 1960’s. But where Branton’s legacy shines brightest is how he managed to get Angela Davis clear of the kidnapping and murder of a California state judge. (READ MORE)
