 In December 1852, under Lord Aberdeen's ministry, Cockburn again became Attorney General, and remained so until 1856, taking part in many celebrated trials.Cockburn shepherded through Parliament the "Common Law Procedure Act 1852" and the "Common Law Procedure Act 1854".Cockburn always sought out the most sensational cases and was astute in rearranging his diary so that he could sit in any trial likely to attract the attention of the press.