Jorge Cleofas Bocobo was born in Gerona, Tarlac Province, on the Philippine island of Luzon, on October 19, 1886. 

 His early education was in his hometown, but at the age of 17 he travelled to Manila to attend a private school. 

 In 1904, he was selected to be one of the 100 Philippine students to participate in the Pensionado program that sent exceptional Philippine students to America to attend a U.S. college. Bocobo is one of at least seven Pensiondo students to attend the Indiana University Law School. 

During the Japanese occupation (1941-44), Bocobo assisted the administration of President Laurel, serving as a Justice of the Supreme Court (1942-44). 

Bocobo received numerous awards for public service during his lifetime, and was awarded honorary doctorate degrees from the University of Southern California (1931), Indiana University (1951), and the University of the Philippines (1953).

 Jorge C. Bocobo died on July 23, 1965.