Bobby Lee Cook (February 12, 1927 ? February 19, 2021) ^[1] was an American defense attorney from Summerville, Georgia , in Chattooga County . ^{[2] [3]} He had practiced law since the late 1940s, and is known for combining a sharp legal mind with a folksy demeanor. He had represented a wide variety of clients, from rural Southerners to international businessmen and corporations. He was reputed to have been the inspiration for the television series Matlock main character Ben Matlock , which starred Andy Griffith as a Georgia attorney. ^{[4] [5]}

Early life and education [ edit ]

Cook was born in 1927 in Lyerly, Georgia . He attended Vanderbilt University Law School in Nashville, Tennessee . He practiced law in Summerville with the Cook & Connelly law firm.

Career [ edit ]

Cook had been a defense attorney for over 65 years. He recalled a time of racial prejudice when African Americans were "required to sit in the balcony of old courtrooms". He described it as "a most unusual, extraordinary time. It was a time when no women sat on juries, and certainly no blacks". ^[6]

Cook was estimated to have won 80% of his murder trials and has "estimated his annual net income at $1 million". ^[1]

Death [ edit ]

Bobby Lee Cook died on February 19, 2021, aged 94. ^[7]

Significant cases [ edit ]

• Represented Wayne Williams , who appealed against his 1982 conviction for the murder of two black youths in what was known as the Atlanta Child Murders .
• Represented Troy L. Griffith Jr., star running back for Trion High School , Trion, Georgia .
• 1986?Defended Tennessee banker C.H. Butcher Jr. , who faced 25 counts of fraud. Butcher was acquitted on all counts. ^[8]
• 1988?Represented former Auburn University All-American football star Bobby Hoppe , who was charged with murder in a 1957 shooting. Jurors deadlocked 10-2 for acquittal. The case was never retried.
• 1989?Defended Jim Williams during the first trial (of four) for the 1981 shooting death of Danny Hansford . The case was the inspiration for the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt , published in 1994. Williams was convicted of the murder and sentenced to life in prison, although appealed, posting a $200,000 bond. Cook later received, anonymously, a copy of the police report showing the arresting officer contradicted himself, and the verdict was overturned. A new trial was ordered.

Notable quotes [ edit ]

"If you can railroad a bad man to prison, you can railroad a good man." ^[2]

References [ edit ]