Leo Branton Jr

Branton, the only 1948 black graduate of the Northwestern University law school, already had decades of civil rights law when he became co-lead defense counsel at Davis' trial. Davis gained national attention in 1969 when the University of California, Los Angeles professor was fired for being a member of the Communist party. Branton had been involved in civil rights cases dating to the late 1940s. He helped singer Nat King Cole integrate the wealthy Los Angeles neighborhood of Hancock Park, defended Communists in the McCarthy era and won police misconduct cases decades before Rodney King. Branton also was an entertainment lawyer who represented the Platters, Miles Davis and Richard Pryor. In addition to Tony Nicholas, Branton is survived by two other sons, Leo Branton and Paul Nicholas, a brother, sister and five grandchildren.