[1] Cohen grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts and graduated from the University of Georgia undergraduate and Boston University School of Law before taking the position of counsel to the bureau of taxation in the Maine Attorney General's office.
Among his accomplishments, Cohen helped negotiate the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act during his time in office.
He also "revolutionized" the Attorney General's office, creating the Maine Criminal Justice Academy and introducing other reforms.
After the Democratic Party won back the Legislature in 1980, Cohen was replaced by James Tierney.
Cohen became ill in 1997 and died at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City after suffering from Crohn's disease.