In this special two-part episode, Chen Guangcheng honors the life and legacy of Jerome Alan Cohen (1930–2024) — a pioneering scholar, lawyer, and lifelong advocate for human rights and the rule of law in China.
Guangcheng shares personal stories from their decades-long friendship: how they first met in 2003, their many conversations about justice and reform, and how Cohen’s mentorship and compassion helped shape generations of legal scholars and activists around the world.
Jerome A. Cohen was a professor at NYU School of Law and one of the world’s foremost experts on Chinese law. A trailblazer in U.S.–China legal studies, he founded NYU’s U.S.-Asia Law Institute and was known for his unwavering commitment to fairness, freedom, and human dignity.
Articles about Jerry Cohen:WSJ - Jerome Cohen, the First American to Practice Law in China, Dies at 95