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As DA, Brown was involved in several controversies. In 1975, he dropped twenty-six [[felony]] counts against Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry\\ Dave L. Pearce on grounds of Pearce's age and the state of health. In 1984, as his tenure wound down, Brown was [[indictment|indicted]] by a federal [[grand jury]] for [[extortion]], [[mail fraud]], and [[perjury]] after he failed to indict two men for possession of ten grams of [[cocaine]]. The day after the East Baton Rouge Parish grand jury declined to take action against the two suspects, the wealthy father of one of the men lent Brown $168,000. A state district judge testified that Brown had asked him to suppress evidence in the case. Brown was acquitted  and said that [[God]] wanted him to seek a third term. He had during his tenure crusaded against [[narcotics]] and [[pornography]]. Though Brown had been the first EBR DA in memory to have been unopposed for a second term in 1978, he was defeated in 1984 by the Republican candidate, [[Bryan Bush]], who was unseated after one term.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_v38/ai_4328771/pg_8|author=[[Ben Toledano]]|title=Laissez les bons temps rouler: Louisiana in its pre-modern era|publisher=''[[National Review]]'' and BNET Business Review on-line|date=August 15, 1986}}</ref>​

As DA, Brown was involved in several controversies. In 1975, he dropped twenty-six [[felony]] counts against Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry\\ Dave L. Pearce on grounds of Pearce's age and the state of health. In 1984, as his tenure wound down, Brown was [[indictment|indicted]] by a federal [[grand jury]] for [[extortion]], [[mail fraud]], and [[perjury]] after he failed to indict two men for possession of ten grams of [[cocaine]]. The day after the East Baton Rouge Parish grand jury declined to take action against the two suspects, the wealthy father of one of the men lent Brown $168,000. A state district judge testified that Brown had asked him to suppress evidence in the case. Brown was acquitted  and said that [[God]] wanted him to seek a third term. He had during his tenure crusaded against [[narcotics]] and [[pornography]]. Though Brown had been the first EBR DA in memory to have been unopposed for a second term in 1978, he was defeated in 1984 by the Republican candidate, [[Bryan Bush]], who was unseated after one term.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_v38/ai_4328771/pg_8|author=[[Ben Toledano]]|title=Laissez les bons temps rouler: Louisiana in its pre-modern era|publisher=''[[National Review]]'' and BNET Business Review on-line|date=August 15, 1986}}</ref>​

 

In 1973, Brown prevented Baton Rouge theaters from showing the NC-13-rated [[film]], ''Last Tango in Paris,'' with [[Marlon Brando]].  In 1979, Brown blocked the showing of the comedy, ''Monty Python’s Life of Brian''. Brown asked Baton Rouge [[magazine]] distributors not to offer the March 1977 issue of ''Hustler'', which a state court judge in [[Ohio]] ruled [[obscene]].<ref name=advo>Steven Ward, "Former DA Ossie Brown dies at 82", ''Baton Rouge Advocate,'' August 29, 2008, p. 1.</ref>​

In 1973, Brown prevented Baton Rouge theaters from showing the NC-13-rated [[film]], ''Last Tango in Paris,'' with [[Marlon Brando]].  In 1979, Brown blocked the showing of the comedy, ''Monty Python’s Life of Brian''. Brown asked Baton Rouge [[magazine]] distributors not to offer the March 1977 issue of ''Hustler'', which a state court judge in [[Ohio]] ruled [[obscene]].<ref name=advo>Steven Ward, "Former DA Ossie Brown dies at 82", ''Baton Rouge Advocate,'' August 29, 2008, p. 1.</ref>​

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In 1980, the African-American attorney [[Murphy Bell]] filed suit against the city of Baton Rouge and District Attorney Brown regarding [[civil rights]] protection for African-American suspects. The suit, which stemmed from the accidental fatal shooting by police of a black teenager named Clarence Morrison, Jr. (born c. 1963), claimed, among various allegations, that Brown had used the grand jury investigative procedure as a "legal backup" to support arbitrary actions by the police department. The city and Brown, however, prevailed in the initial court and on appeal.<ref>{{cite web|url=

In 1980, the African-American attorney [[Murphy Bell]] filed suit against the city of Baton Rouge and District Attorney Brown regarding [[civil rights]] protection for African-American suspects. The suit, which stemmed from the accidental fatal shooting by police of a black teenager named Clarence Morrison, Jr. (born c. 1963), claimed, among various allegations, that Brown had used the grand jury investigative procedure as a "legal backup" to support arbitrary actions by the police department. The city and Brown, however, prevailed in the initial court and on appeal.<ref>{{cite web|url=

http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F2/614/614.F2d.77.79-2532.html|title="Mrs. Susie Lite MORRISON and Clarence Morrison, Sr., Mother and Father of Deceased Clarence Morrison, Jr., suing on their behalf and as

http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F2/614/614.F2d.77.79-2532.html|title="Mrs. Susie Lite MORRISON and Clarence Morrison, Sr., Mother and Father of Deceased Clarence Morrison, Jr., suing on their behalf and as Administrators of Clarence Morrison, Jr., Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. City of Baton Rouge et al., Defendants-Appellees, including East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Ossie B. Brown|publisher=resource.org|date=1980}}</ref>

Administrators of Clarence Morrison, Jr., Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. City of Baton Rouge et al., Defendants-Appellees, including East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Ossie B. Brown|publisher=resource.org|date=1980}}</ref>

 

==Activities as DA==​

==Activities as DA==​

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During his time as district attorney, Brown was elected president of both the Louisiana State and the National District Attorney's associations. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Baton Rouge Rape Crisis Center, the Pretrial Intervention Program, the Victim and Witness Assistance Program, and "I Care," a narcotics prevention program. Brown served too on the executive council of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement. He was chairman of the first child abuse committee formed by the National District Attorney's Association. He wrote ''You and the Law'', a [[book]] used in [[civics]] classes in the East Baton Rouge Parish school system.<ref name=obit/>​

During his time as district attorney, Brown was elected president of both the Louisiana State and the National District Attorney's associations. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Baton Rouge Rape Crisis Center, the Pretrial Intervention Program, the Victim and Witness Assistance Program, and "I Care," a narcotics prevention program. Brown served too on the executive council of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement. He was chairman of the first child abuse committee formed by the National District Attorney's Association. He wrote ''You and the Law'', a book]used in [[civics]] classes in the East Baton Rouge Parish school system.<ref name=obit/>​

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==Civic leadership, death and legacy==​

==Civic leadership, death and legacy==

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Brown sat on the advisory board of the [[Salvation Army]] and the executive committee of the [[Boy Scouts]] Istrouma Council. He also worked in the annual [[Jerry Lewis]] Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. He hosted the [[Lions Club International|Lions Club]] Crippled Children's Telethon. He supported the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home, an [orphanage in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]]. Since 1964, Brown had been an active member of the Florida Boulevard Baptist Church, at which he taught the Fellowship Bible class. Earlier, he had been music director of various churches.<ref name=obit/>​

Brown sat on the advisory board of the [[Salvation Army]] and the executive committee of the [[Boy Scouts]] Istrouma Council. He also worked in the annual [[Jerry Lewis]] Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. He hosted the Lions Club International Crippled Children's Telethon. He supported the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home, an [orphanage in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]]. Since 1964, Brown had been an active member of the Florida Boulevard Baptist Church, at which he taught the Fellowship Bible class. Earlier, he had been music director of various churches.<ref name=obit/>​

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After he left the office of district attorney, Brown resumed his law practice until he retired in the year 2000 from the still existing offices of Ossie Brown at 123 St. Ferdinand Street in Baton Rouge. One of the partners is Brown's son, Dana Brent Brown.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pview.findlaw.com/view/2267741_1|title=Law Offices of Ossie Brown, St. Ferdinand St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802|publisher=pview.findlaw.com|accessdate=September 21, 2019}}</ref>​

After he left the office of district attorney, Brown resumed his law practice until he retired in the year 2000 from the still existing offices of Ossie Brown at 123 St. Ferdinand Street in Baton Rouge. One of the partners is Brown's son, Dana Brent Brown.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pview.findlaw.com/view/2267741_1|title=Law Offices of Ossie Brown, St. Ferdinand St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802|publisher=pview.findlaw.com|accessdate=September 21, 2019}}</ref>​