O.J. Simpson trial: Key attorneys

May 2024 ยท 5 minute read

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(Court TV) -- Profiles of the key attorneys in the murder trial of O.J. Simpson:

THE PROSECUTION TEAM (in alphabetical order)

Marcia Clark, born 8-31-53, is the lead attorney in the case. She is assigned to the Special Trials Division. She joined the District Attorney's Office in 1981 and has prosecuted about 60 jury trials, including 20 murder cases. She successfully prosecuted Robert John Bardo for stalking and murdering actress Rebecca Schaeffer. She is a graduate of the Southwestern University School of Law.

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Christopher Darden, born 4-7-56, is co-counsel. He has taken more than 19 homicide cases to jury since becoming a Los Angeles County prosecutor in 1980. Darden became a deputy district attorney in 1981 and completed a six-and-a-half year assignment with the Special Investigations Division before joining the prosecution team. He is a graduate of San Jose State University and Hastings College of the Law.

Gil Garcetti, born 8-5-41, is the Los Angeles District Attorney, elected in 1992. He joined the District Attorney's Office in 1968 and served as chief deputy from 1984-1988. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California and has a law degree from UCLA School of Law.

Hank Goldberg, 31, joined the District Attorney's Office in 1985. He worked for a private civil law firm in Los Angeles from 1988-1989 before returning to resume his career as a prosecutor. As a deputy district attorney, he has prosecuted about 30 felony trials including eight murder trials. He helped prosecute Catherine Thompson, convicted of killing her husband for his insurance money and sentenced to death in 1992. Goldberg also prosecuted Jose Guerra for the murder of as registered nurse who was attacked in her home. Goldberg is a graduate of UCLA and the Loyola Law School.

William Hodgman, born 12-14-52, is director of the Bureau of Central Operations, which includes the Special Trials Division. He joined the District Attorney's Office in 1978 and has prosecuted about 130 trials, including 40 murder cases. He helped win the 1992 conviction of Charles Keating for securities fraud. He is a graduate of UCLA and Hastings College of the Law.

Lisa Kahn, born 12-28-57, is the DNA coordinator for the district attorney's office. She joined the District Attorney's Office 10 years ago and is a member of the Organized Crime Division. She successfully prosecuted the first DNA evidentiary jury trial in California. She received her law degree from Southwestern University School of Law and is a graduate of the University of Southern California.

Cheri Lewis, born 8-8-52, is assisting in the research and preparation of prosecution motions and pleadings. She has successfully tried eight murder cases during her five years with the District Attorney's Office. She previously worked in the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office. She earned a law degree from the University of La Verne College of Law, San Fernando Valley Campus, an undergraduate degree from California State University at Northridge.

THE DEFENSE TEAM (in alphabetical order)

F. Lee Bailey, born 6-10-33, is a friend of Robert Shapiro, who successfully defended Bailey against drunken driving charges in 1982. Bailey has been involved in numerous high-profile cases. He defended Albert De Salvo, the Boston Strangler, and worked on an unsuccessful defense of Patricia Hearst. He was successful in overturning the conviction of Sam Sheppard, a Cleveland doctor accused of murdering his wife. The case became a landmark on the issue of pretrial publicity. He is a graduate of Harvard University and the Boston University School of Law.

Johnnie Cochran Jr., born 10-2-37, has represented music superstar Michael Jackson and Los Angeles riot victim Reginald Denny. He successfully defended actor Todd Bridges, the former star of Diff'rent Strokes, winning an acquittal for him in 1989 on charges of attempted murder, attempted involuntary manslaughter, and assault with a deadly weapon, despite four eyewitness accusations. Cochran has become renowned for successfully suing municipalities in suits involving excessive force or sexual abuse by police officers. He is a graduate of UCLA and the Loyola Marymount University School of Law, now Loyola Law School.

Alan Dershowitz, born 9-1-38, a Harvard Law School professor and author, won a reversal of the conviction of Claus Von Bulow, who was charged with trying to murder his socialite wife. The case was made into the movie, "Reversal of Fortune.'' He has led the appeals of Leona Helmsley, Mike Tyson and evangelist Jim Bakker.

Carl Douglas, born 5-8-55, specializes in police misconduct cases. He is the managing attorney at the Law Offices of Johnnie Cochran, Jr., in charge of the firm's 12 lawyers. Douglas graduated from Northwestern University and the University of California, Boalt Hall School of Law.

Peter Neufeld has taught and litigated extensively in both the "hard" and behavioral forensic sciences. Along with Barry Scheck, he directs "The Innocence Project," which currently represents more than 200 inmates seeking post-conviction release through DNA testing. Neufeld teaches trial advocacy at Fordham University School of Law. He is co-chairman of the National Association oif Criminal Defense Lawyers DNA Task Force. Neufeld is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and the New York University School of Law.

Barry Scheck, born 9-19-49, is a law professor and director of clinical education at the Cardoza Law School in New York City. He is a graduate of Yale University and the University of California, Boalt Hall School of Law.

Robert Shapiro, born 9-2-42, has successfully represented high-profile clients including Johnny Carson and John Z. DeLorean. He has been the lead counsel in about 10 murder cases, and he succeeded in getting the murder charge against Christian Brando, son of Marlon Brando, reduced to voluntary manslaughter. A former Deputy District Attorney, he is a graduate of UCLA and the Loyola Law School.

Gerald Uelmen, born 10-8-40, is a professor at the Santa Clara University School of Law. A constitutional scholar well-versed in appellate rulings, he is a former Assistant United States Attorney in Los Angeles. He worked with Shapiro on the Christian Brando case. E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend

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