John Burris: civil-rights trial attorney, author and legal analyst.

John Burris has spent more than five decades in the legal profession and represented more than 1,000 victims of police misconduct.

John Burris founded the Law Offices of John Burris in Oakland in 1985. He is the founder and lead attorney of John Burris, Nisenbaum & Curry. His practice focuses on civil rights, police misconduct and government accountability.

His landmark matters include Rodney King’s civil case, representation of Oscar Grant’s family and the Oakland Riders litigation. His clients have also included Tupac Shakur, Barry Bonds, Delroy Lindo, Gary Payton, Jason Kidd and Keyshawn Johnson.

John began his career at Jenner & Block in Chicago and subsequently served as a prosecutor in Illinois and Alameda County. In 1979, an independent investigation into the fatal police shooting of Melvin Black helped set the course for his civil-rights practice.

He has provided legal analysis on CNN, MSNBC, FOX News and Court TV, bringing courtroom experience to national coverage for decades. His perspective extends from breaking news to the history of civil rights and the practical meaning of government accountability.

He holds a J.D. and an M.B.A. from UC Berkeley and is the author of Blue vs. Black: Let’s End the Conflict Between Cops and Minorities.