John Cofer was a Texas attorney instrumental in Lyndon Johnson's rise to power. He was there at the beginning representing him in the aftermath of the contested 1948 primary election.

He also represented Johnson's associates when the Senator / President wanted to control the information made public during various trials. Among them was the trial of Mac Wallace for the murder of John Kinzer. Although Wallace was convicted of first degree murder no evidence was presented that linked him to Johnson. His cooperation was rewarded when he received a five year suspended sentence for the killing.

Cofer also represented Johnson crony Billy Sol Estes – over Estes objections. He tried to fire Cofer but the attorney refused to leave saying he had already been paid. During the trial he refused to put Estes on the stand where he could have revealed damaging information. Unfortunately for Estes he was not as fortunate as Wallace and spent several years in prison for being caught defrauding the government with is scheme to receive subsidies for non-existent crops.