Premium Essay

The OJ Simpson Trial

Submitted By
Words 1046
Pages 5
The World Shock Brought On By The OJ Simpson Trials The OJ Simpson trials were held from January 24 to October 3, 1995. These trials were held at the Los Angeles County Superior Court in California. The trials of the People of the State of California v. Orenthal James Simpson were held to try former NFL star and actor O. J. Simpson. He was tried on two counts of murder for the June 12, 1994 deaths of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and a friend of hers, Ron Goldman. The case was later described as the most publicized criminal trial in American history. The trial and its outcomes were such a major piece of history from the late 90s, with its impact is still being discussed today as there have been numerous accounts of retelling the events. …show more content…
Many individuals have either been falsely accused or let off without being charged following their court case. Although there was talk about corruption of the court during the case, such as the idea of misconduct in the jury selection, the majority of the legal system corruption came after the final verdict of the case(Toobin 411). Having Orenthal James Simpson sent free after having an abundance of evidence against his case, made many citizens feel unsettled as they wondered how credible their legal system really is if it allows someone to get off of their charges even when it seems that all of the clues point to guilty(Enomoto 147). The way that the crime scene was handled before the case was brought about allowed for the prosecutor's case to be picked apart because of the gaping holes that were present within what they were pleading to the …show more content…
Its relations with the media, race, and legal system corruption are three of the reasons why it was such an important event in American history. The trials received so much media attention because OJ was such a well known celebrity and he was loved by many people world wide. The media knew that people would be relying on them for the latest news about the case, making it easy for them to sway the public opinion with whatever information they released. The trial that began with the question of murder, quickly changed to a case about race. The division of people was apparent, with the blacks supporting OJ’s innocence and the whites pushing for the guilty verdict. The issues presented to the courtroom during the case could have very well provided the reasoning for how it turned out. Misconduct in selecting a fair and even jury as well as the problems with the police and forensics illustrated the true issues with legal system corruption. Without the impact that the OJ Simpson trials had on the world, the reality of life today could have been something that no one would have imagined since there would not have been a trial, as the century was turning, with such a strong impact of the issues surrounding media, race, and legal system

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Oj Simpson Trial

...Osvaldo Orozco Peterson English 2 12 September 2014 Injustice On the night of June 12, 1994, just after midnight, Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman were discovered, brutally murdered outside the front courtyard of Nicole Simpson's Brentwood condominium. Nicole Simpson was the estranged wife of the famous football player and T.V. star O.J. Simpson. Ron Goldman was an acquaintance of Nicole and worked at the Mezulla Restaurant near Nicole’s’ condo. He was believed to have been returning a pair of glasses Nicole’s mother had left at the restaurant earlier that evening. Even though O.J. Simpson was found not guilty in the crime of murder, the large amount of evidence, including DNA evidence, undoubtedly proved guilt, and a murderer walked free. Judge Lance Ito was appointed to hear the case which was widely broadcasted and televised. The prosecution was led by lawyers, Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden and the defense was lead by “The Dream Team”, lawyers, Johnnie Cochran, Robert Shapiro and Robert Blasier. The case was filed in the downtown district of Los Angeles where a more racially diverse jury would be appointed. Keep in mind; this was only two years prior to the Los Angeles riots following the beating and trial of Rodney King. Racial tension was high and treatment of minorities was becoming a huge concern. Prosecutors also decided not to seek the death penalty, a costly mistake that would have otherwise gave them the advantage of having a “death qualified...

Words: 1171 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Summary Of The Oj Simpson Trial

...Areeb O.J Simpson Trial Summary During the OJ Simpson trial. OJ Simpson was the most beloved american athlete around his time. He was accused of murder of his fiance Nicole Brown Simpson and his two children. Some of the people of the jury had found him not guilty in 1995. OJ Simpson has sister went against him in the trial. Saying “She said that he was abusive, and very short tempered, and that he physically grabbed her in her crotch”. So he was not guilty but then after a 2 years he was sent to prison because of verbal abuse and was convicted in a kidnapping( he will be on parole in 2017). One of the main reasons he was found not guilty. But he would have to pay at least 6 million in damage. They saw at least the murder glove is not...

Words: 264 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Oj Simpson Research Paper

...Who was the person that murdered oj simpson's wife. Do you think anyone will ever find out who murdered her? We still don't know who murdered her however people still might think that oj simpson was the one who murdered his own wife. Have you ever heard of a unsolved mystery well oj simpson was in a unsolved mystery. Oj simpson was accused of murdering his own wife but he said he did not. The O. J. Simpson murder case officially titled People of the State of California v. Orenthal James Simpson was a criminal trial held at the Los Angeles County Superior Court in which former National Football League NFL player, broadcaster, and actor Orenthal James O. J. Simpson was tried on two counts of murder for the June 12, 1994, deaths of his ex-wife...

Words: 410 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

California V. Simpson Case Summary

...of Case (California v. Simpson) O.J. Simpson was a start NFL player who was tried on two counts of murder for the June 12th, 1994 deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson, his ex-wife and her friend, Ronald Goldman. Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronal Goldman were fatally stabbed on June 12th, 1994, and discovered the next morning on her property in Los Angeles. (OJ Simpsons murder, n.d.) OJ Simpson did not turn himself in but instead became the center of attention in a pursuit in his white Bronco SUV. Simpson was charged and pleaded not guilty to both murders and he was held without bail as per the Judge. Multiple hearings were held, presenting evidence against Simpson in which many were overlooked. Many flaws were exposed in the trials and the judicial...

Words: 1157 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Trial of O.J.Simpson

...Courtroom TV Paper: OJ Simpson Trial Team C: Dwana Harris, Ian Mcguire, Ryan Raeffer, Andrew Cantrell, Renel Philippe, Aaron Pena CJA/224 October 7, 2013 Lou Wittmer Introduction The double-murder trial of O.J. Simpson is surely one that will live in infamy. From the controversial “If the glove doesn’t fit, you must acquit” phrase coined by his superstar attorney Johnnie Cochran to the jaw-dropping verdict of not guilty this case has made its mark in history. In 1994 Nicole Brown-Simpson and Ronald Goldman were found stabbed to death. With no other obvious suspects, Brown-Simpson’s husband Orenthal James Simpson became the object of law enforcement’s suspicion and was charged with the murders. The case was brought to trial and with seemingly solid physical evidence the prosecution went into attack mode painting a picture that was supposed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Simpson was guilty of premeditated murder. However, having a “Dream Team” defense, as it was called proved to be far more beneficial to Simpson that anyone I this nation would have ever thought. The defense lawyers used mechanisms such as racial profiling and police corruption to mangle the prosecution’s case and discredit every piece of information that was once presumed viable. The trial deliberations grabbed the attention of almost every American and for the duration people stayed glued to the television awaiting the verdict. What was the crime the defendant was alleged to have committed...

Words: 2126 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Why Is Oj Simpson Wrong

...“If the glove doesn't fit then you must acquit” this quote was said by Johnnie Cochran during the trial of Orenthal James Simpson who later pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder. OJ” Simpson is guilty of murdering his ex wife Nicole Brown Simpson and waiter Ronald Lyle Goldman on June 12, 1994. This can be proved by the famous gloves, evidence from the murder scene and the scene itself, and a possible motive that OJ had to murder Nicole and Ronald. Evidence that proves that OJ Simpson is guilty of murdering Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman on June 12th, 1994 are the bloody gloves. According to investigators there was a bloody leather glove at the scene of the murder in Brentwood, California and another bloody leather glove at...

Words: 879 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

The Appeal Process

...if they feel there was something wrong with the process of the trial court. There are basically two channels of appeals the Federal and State appeals. After the trial courts is the Federal Court of Appeals and on the state-side are the Appellate courts, although some states only have one level of appellate courts, after that are the Federal U.S. Supreme Courts and the State Supreme Courts. In criminal cases both sides can request an appeal unless the government is involved, usually they cannot appeal for an acquittal (State v. Jones). An appeal is “a legal proceeding by which a case is brought before a higher court for review of a decision of a lower court” (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). Just because someone doesn’t like the verdict handed down by a judge does not give them the right to an appeal. The appeal process is for challenging the process within the court and to ensure that constitutional rights were upheld from the arrest to the final verdict handed down from the court. When the losing party wants to appeal they submit in writing to the appellate court to have their case herd, sometimes an oral argument is presented where both sides have a chance to plead their case. Appellate courts have the right to overturn a decision or send it back to trial court for a re-trial to correct the found errors. Appeals are all about the process of a fair trial and to ensure their rights were not violated. After a trial, the losing side of the verdict is the one to submit to the appeal...

Words: 983 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Job Analysis

...OJ Simpson Case Study Psychology 410 November 17, 2000 Gregory E. Haymon OJ Simpson Case Study Forensic DNA is a way to explain a crime, but it has to be gathered and stored properly to be counted pure. The OJ Simpson case, the defense claimed that the murder incident and the Simpson estate were not divided when evidence was collected. The defense stated that the bloodstains were found in the Bronco and on OJ's socks. DNA can be beneficial when determining who the killer was and who was at a scene, but the collection has to be done according to standards. The Simpson case was a displayed wrong and the way forensic DNA works when crimes are solved. The OJ Simpson case demonstrates the most challenging evidence created by the forensics scientists. This evidence may not be enough to convince a jury beyond a realistic doubt that an accused individual is guilty. It is well-defined that with highly trained agents who work on a high profile cases or any other cases, it must be accompanied by well-trained crime scene investigators to collect evidences. Therefore, progress of accreditation programs that train police officers and crime scene technicians in the appropriate approaches to handle the evidence in a crime scene investigation should be on-going. The two main points to consider when examining the case study of OJ Simpson is first to provide an overview of selected case. The second step is to explain the emotional, biological, behavioral components, and...

Words: 1668 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Case Study

...Flaws in the OJ Simpson Case Though the OJ Simpson Case was among the cases which received the largest followership in the history of America court cases, there were so many flaws, weaknesses and failures which were witnessed in the course of the case and even in the delivery of the judgment (Allen, 1996). Though OJ Simpson was found innocent of the crime that involved the death of his ex-wife, there is a lot of evidence which shows that the judgment of the case could have been otherwise. To begin with, the first flaw to this case was that the media was too much involved. Since OJ Simpson was a celebrity, this case attracted many media platforms and this made the case be talked everyone. The problem with the media is that most of the media platforms failed to capture and disperse information concerning the real issue in the case; rather they talked about other issues which were not of significant in the case. Most media platforms focused on the racial orientation of OJ Simpson. Since he was a black American, the media focused mainly on his race rather than the crime that had been committed in this case and for this reason, the judges seems to have changed their might on the outcome of the case. The judge’s decision seems to have been influenced by the way the media talked about racial orientation of the OJ Simpson. If the outcome of the case was otherwise, this could have sparked a lot of tension in US and there it may have pone of the reasons why the case outcome was in...

Words: 1134 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Oj Simpson

...OJ Simpson hofsaak Die saak is die titel ‘The Trial of the Century’ gegee en het een van die mees media gepubliseerde sake geword in Amerika. Orenthal James Simpson (OJ Simpson), is ‘n bekende Amerikaanse NFL speler asook akteur. Op 12 Junie 1994, is OJ Simpson se gewese vrou (Nicole Brown) en haar vriend, Ronald Goldman gekry, waar hulle vermoor is, net buite haar huis in die kompleks waar sy woon. Albei slagoffers was gevind in die paadjie wat na die huis se deur loop. Die LAPD het verskeie DNA bewyse gekry wat OJ Simpson aan die moord verbind het. Die LAPD het deur middel van die media Mnr. Simpson in kennis gestel dat hy homself teen 11:00 die oggend op, 17 Junie 1994 moet inhandig by die polisie. Mnr. Simpson het homself nie oorhandig aan die polisie nie, maar het wel ‘n nota gegee aan sy prokureur (Robert Kardashian) waarin Mnr. Simpson die media toe spreuk, van die feit dat hy niks met die moord te doen het nie en dat hy geskok was om te hoor wat gebeur het. Die nota het dit ook laat blyk dat Mnr. Simpson van plan was om selfmoord te pleeg. Wat as waar bewys is toe hy dreig om homself te skiet terwyl hy in die agter sitplek van sy Ford Bronco gesit het wat deur sy vriend Al Cowlings bestuur is op die tyd. Hy was oortuig om homself nie te skiet nie en was gearresteer. Mnr. Simpson het onskuldig gepleit op altwee aanklagtes van moord en die saak het die hof bereik op 29 Januarie 1995. Aangesien die aanklaer nie die moord wapen of finger afdrukke gehad het om as bewyse...

Words: 489 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Jury Process

...process in detail. First we will review the stages of the criminal trail and go in depth with the jury selection process. The paper will demonstrate why the jury selection process is necessary for the United States as well as its patrons. The paper will also provide a break down of advantages and disadvantages on the jury selection process. In addition to the information listed above, we will review some large profile court cases and its jury selection process. This will determine just how detailed and challenging the process can prove to be. The criminal trial process is a precaution that the United States Government has in place in order to protect the patrons of this country constitutional rights. By using the criminal trial process, they ensure that each civilian is offered a far and speedy trail. The criminal trail process has a number of different steps in order for it to flow seamlessly. The steps of the criminal trial process are as follows: trail initiation, jury selection, opening statements, presentation of evidence, closing arguments, judge’s charge to the jury, jury deliberations, and the verdict. Within this body we will be reviewing the jury selection process within detail. Within the Sixth Amendment of United States Constitution it points out that a citizen has the right to an impartial jury, which means the defendant should have a jury of peers that are unbiased to his or her particular case. In order to select such a jury, the prosecution and the defense begins...

Words: 1142 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Oj Simpson Research Paper

...great grandfather witnessed plenty of extravagant events. Some of these events include: The Waco Horror, KKK, Emmett Till case, The Watergate scandal, O.J. Simpson trial, Trayvon Martin Trial. The Waco horror took a great toll on the African American community in 1916. Jesse Washington, a 17-year-old black farmhand railroaded to a conviction in the murder and rape of a white woman in Waco on May 15, 1916. He was snatched from court and mutilated and burned alive outside City Hall before some 15,000 spectators -- half of Waco's population at the time -- and a photographer alerted in advance to shoot picture postcards. Afterward the charred corpse was dragged...

Words: 1112 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Why Is Oj Simpson Guilty

...OJ Simpson was a former NFL football star, actor, and a broadcaster. Simpson was a college football superstar at USC. He was convicted of armed robbery and kidnap. Furthermore, in 2008 he was sentenced up to 33 years in prison for kidnapping and armed robbery of ‘’two sports memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas hotel room in 2007’’. Later on, he was in a criminal trial because he was found to be the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Simpson due to blood stains left behind. In my opinion, I think he is guilty because according to an article based on his biography he was ordered to surrender on June 17 at 11 a.m. but instead he vanished and left. If he was innocent why would he run away? if anything he should surrender to prove that he was innocent. Later he was tracked down when he made a phone call on the Santa Ana freeway. This lead on to a full televised speed chase even though later on, he surrendered voluntarily because he pleaded to be 100% not guilty and he said he wasn't running away....

Words: 625 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Crime Scene Management

...Discuss the importance of good crime scene management and the maintenance of sample integrity. This paper will firstly define the five building blocks, procedures and protocols that underpin good crime scene management. Secondly, the paper will argue the two most important factors that enable good crime scene management and sample integrity with reference to the highly publicised cases of OJ Simpson and Amanda Knox. Thirdly the paper will conclude to explain how good crime scene management and sample integrity is essential to enable successful convictions. A ‘crime scene’, refers to the primary or secondary area in which a suspected crime has taken place where physical evidence can be obtained. Such areas include indoor or outdoor locations, vehicles or persons as noted by Jackson and Jackson (2011). Upon identifying a crime scene one is presented with a myriad of information and questions. In order to obtain the answers and evidence the crime scene presents that may lead to a successful future conviction(s), there are a number of important principals, procedures and methods that must be stringently followed and managed by the police’s criminal investigative team. As Jackson and Jackson (2011, p.15) has noted, “The way in which scenes of crime are managed and recorded, and how the physical and digital evidence is located, collected, packaged, labelled and stored, are all fundamental to the success of subsequent forensic examinations.” The main objective of the crime...

Words: 1942 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Murder and Wrongful Death

...of cases where murder has gone from being a criminal case to a civil case of wrongful death. Many murder cases where a Jury did not convict a suspect of murder went further to become a wrongful death law suit in which the family sued the Defendant. Such cases have made major headlines such as the case in which OJ Simpson was acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. The families of Goldman and Nicole Simpson then sued OJ Simpson in civil court and received a judgment against Simpson for approximately $30 million dollars. This case was appealed and the judgments were affirmed by the Appellate Court in California. Cases of this nature set the stage for these actions and the types of remedies that are available to victim’s families. Should families of victims have the ability to sue a Defendant for the murder of another? Should the murder suspect be sued for wrongful death even if they are not convicted in criminal court? Murder cases in criminal court must have evidence proving that the alleged suspect committed the murder. Civil cases involving wrongful death based on a murder case should have the same standards as the same case in criminal trial. Cases of these types are a great burden on court systems and society in general. Murder Murder, is the unlawful killing of another human being. In the field of Criminal Justice the act of Murder is also called...

Words: 3583 - Pages: 15