Coke, kuk, Sir Edward (1552-1634), was a brilliant English courtroom lawyer. He rose to prominence as speaker of Parliament in 1593. In 1594, he was selected over Sir Francis Bacon as Queen Elizabeth's attorney general, and in 1606 he became chief justice under King James I. As chief justice, Coke insisted that even the king was subject to the law. His famous Institutes and Reports (1600-1615) include many principles of modern law. Coke was born in Mileham, England, on Feb. 1, 1552.