By Jianli Yang

Last week, the world lost a towering figure: Professor Jerome A. Cohen, ZT\’’L. — “May the memory of this righteous one be a blessing.” He passed away at the age of 95, leaving behind a legacy that transformed the fields of Chinese law, human rights advocacy, and U.S.–China legal and political engagement. For me, Jerry’s passing is not only a profound public loss; it is deeply personal.

A Lifeline During Imprisonment

When I was arbitrarily detained in China in 2002, my dear friend and Harvard Kennedy School classmate Jared Genser became my legal counsel. Young, bold, and determined, Jared immediately sought guidance from the foremost American expert on Chinese law — Jerome A. Cohen. Jerry had essentially founded the field of Chinese legal studies in the United States. He was fluent in Mandarin, served as counsel at Paul Weiss, taught at NYU Law, and had defended many Chinese dissidents before me.

After Jared left him a long voicemail, Jerry promptly called back, listened carefully, and agreed on the spot to join my legal team pro bono. He didn’t hesitate. He hadn’t even heard of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention — the mechanism Jared intended to use — but he said he was sure he would learn something from Jared too. That humility, combined with brilliance, was quintessential Jerry.

Over the next five years, Jared and Jerry spearheaded one of the most successful U.S. rescue efforts for a Chinese political prisoner. Together, they fought relentlessly through legal channels, diplomatic pressure, and public advocacy. They won my case at the UN. They secured a letter signed by 119 Members of Congress to President George W. Bush, urging him to demand my release. They organized press conferences, candlelight vigils, lobbying trips to Washington, and op-eds in major newspapers. They built an unstoppable coalition that mobilized the U.S. government and Congress to act decisively.

Because of these efforts — and the unwavering support of people like Jerry and Jared — I was released and returned to America in August 2007. Without them, I have no doubt I would still be languishing in a Chinese prison.

A Scholar with a Human Heart

Jerry was not only a brilliant legal mind; he was also a person of immense warmth, humor, and empathy. Shortly after my release, while I was still under an exit ban in China, Jerry and his wife visited Beijing on one of his scholarly trips. They invited me to dinner at a fancy restaurant to celebrate my return to partial freedom. I was captivated by his fluent Chinese, his impeccable manners, his deep curiosity about others’ stories, and his infectious sense of humor. He spoke with both authority and genuine care. He assured me warmly that he would do everything possible to help lift my exit ban — and I believed him.

Jerry possessed a unique ability that very few Americans ever mastered: he could fight for human rights and the rule of law in China openly and fearlessly, while maintaining constructive channels of engagement with the Chinese government. Chinese officials respected him, even when he challenged them. He walked a delicate line that few dared to attempt, and even fewer could sustain with such integrity.

A Lifelong Ally in the Human Rights Struggle

Jerry’s support extended far beyond my own case. After my release, we worked together again on several high-profile human rights cases including that of Liu Xiaobo. When Liu Xiaobo won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010, Jared and I were entrusted by Liu’s wife to coordinate with the Nobel Committee to organize the award ceremony. We invited Jerry to attend as Liu Xiaobo’s guest. He declined only because he had long planned a trip to China to assist legal scholars and lawyers — his lifelong mission. In typical Jerry fashion, he replied jokingly: “I will go to the frontline to fight while you guys have the big party.”

He never stopped fighting for justice, even in his 80s and 90s. He continued teaching, writing, mentoring, and supporting countless activists, lawyers, and scholars. He was both a giant and a friend, a mentor and a comrade.

An Enduring Legacy

Jerry’s passing leaves an unfathomable void. He was one of the very few who managed to combine sharp legal insight, strategic acumen, cultural fluency, and moral courage into a single, extraordinary life. His influence shaped generations of lawyers, scholars, and activists — including Jared Genser, whose career as a leading international human rights lawyer began with Jerry’s mentorship, and myself, whose freedom and continued advocacy were made possible through Jerry’s efforts.

I will forever be grateful to Jerry Cohen. His memory will live on in the countless lives he touched, in the legal frameworks he helped build, and in the principles of justice and humanity he so passionately defended.

May his memory indeed be a blessing — for all of us who continue the work he so valiantly championed.