Mr. Cooley was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He received a B.S. from the University of Kansas in 1958 and an LL.B. from the same institution in 1959. He was a member of the Board of Editors of the Kansas Law Review from 1958-1959 and was a Lecturer of Law at the University of Kansas School of Law from 1980-1994. Mr. Cooley has been the Lawrence City Attorney since 1988.

He is a member of the Kansas Bar Association. He is also a current member of the Douglas County Bar Association and was Secretary/Treasurer of the organization from 1960-1961, Vice President from 1967-1968, and President from 1968-1969.