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"For more than a year, Christopher Darden argued passionately and tirelessly, giving voice to the victims in the O.J. Simpson murder trial. But few people knew that he was fighting a deeper, more insidious battle - against racism that came from all sides. When the case was over and O.J. Simpson was set free, the disheartened prosecutor bore the anguish and disillusionment of millions of Americans. He also carried wounds that perhaps no other black person has ever felt as deeply. Now, out of show more the sensational frenzy of the "trial of the century" comes a haunting and poignant memoir of duty, justice, and the constant, powerful undertow of American bigotry." "Christopher Darden's In Contempt is an unflinching look at a justice system kidnapped by a racist cop, shameless defense lawyers, a starstruck judge, and a dysfunctional jury. It shows what the television cameras couldn't: behind-the-scenes meetings where Darden tried to determine whether detective Mark Fuhrman was telling the truth about his racist views; deteriorating relationships between the defense and prosecution teams, with taunting, baiting, and a pushing match between Darden and Simpson; and a judge who let the case get out of control while he collected hourglasses from fans and invited celebrities into his chambers." "Darden is stunningly candid about his own performance - including the brash decision to put the gloves on Simpson - and details the inner workings of the largest prosecution team in California history. He also recounts the strong relationship forged between himself and Marcia Clark, who was exhausted by the pressures of a bitter ex-husband and demeaning treatment from other lawyers and the judge."--Jacket. show less

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3 reviews
For a period of my life, I stopped by a bar regularly on my way home. It was the bar and grill then inside the Pontiac Silverdome: The Main Event. During that time, I showed to watch the "Trial of the Century" with other patrons and discuss Ito's side bars, Marcia Clark, Johnnie Cochran, O.J. Simpson, etc. I read Triumph of Justice: Closing the Book on the Simpson Saga on the civil case, but I think this is the first I have read of an insider during the criminal trial. It feels like legal memoir with biography attached since Darden treats us to something like 140 pages of his life before we start to learn the details of what he feels contempt for. Among the reasons he feels contempt for the outcome is the large amount of evidence, not show more all of which could have been planted, tainted, faked or whatever:

At Simpson's estate, O.J.'s blood was in his driveway and foyer, while Goldman's blood was on the glove alongside his house, and O.J.'s and Nicole's blood was on the socks in his bedroom. The blood was spattered on the socks-nineteen separate blood spots right around the ankles, where blood would likely splash as Simpson hacked at the victims and then walked through the pools of their blood. There were also blood smears at the tops of the socks, where he'd pulled them off his feet. The chance that the blood was someone else's besides Nicole's? One in 21 billion. Ron's? One in 41 billion. Pretty significant figures when there are only 5.5 billion people in the world.

In Simpson's Bronco, Nicole's blood was mixed with O.J.'s on the carpet. Goldman's blood was on the con- sole, and a mixture of the blood of all three was else- where on the console.

Tests were done at two different labs. Contamination was impossible. And in all this testing, no other blood was found. In these lakes of blood, there were identifiable traces of only three people: Ron, Nicole, and O.J. Simpson.


While the trail dragged on for so long, I never considered how hard it was on the overloaded, stressed, public servants waging the peoples' case. Much of that is here about the lack of sleep, isolation, frustration, money problems, etc. Of course money was flowing to and compromising a lot of would-be testifiers while the defense team orchestrated the glove scene, made the case about racism instead of murder, and buttered Judge Ito's ego. In one of the most telling bits of exasperation, Darden recalls a moment of decision late in the proceeding on whether to move for Ito's recusal:

To be honest, I wasn't interested in getting rid of him. The trial had dragged on too long already and, at some level, there were more important things than winning this case at all costs.
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When I started this book, I thought it was about the OJ Simpson trial, Simpson on trial for murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend and good-deed-doer Ronald Goldman. And it was ... but it wasn't. It was so much more. Darden takes us on his path through his early life to the point where he got serious about Law School. Then on to understand his strong career in the Los Angeles Districty Attorney's office.

I have been fascinated by the OJ Simpson trial since I found and watched the entire trial, chronological and uncut, including the Preliminary hearing on the YouTube Channel OJ Trial Uncut. I was a working person when the trial originally aired so I chose to not watch it as I didn't want to see any if I couldn't see it show more all. Thanks to the YouTube channel I have been able to watch it, in all it's "glory", at my own pace.

I really enjoyed Darden's perspective. From a reluctant writer to a moving tale of triumph, tragedy and, ultimately, betrayal of Darden's great love ... the law.
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Author Information

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5 Works 569 Members
Christopher Darden lives in Los Angeles, California. (Bowker Author Biography) Christopher Darden won international recognition as an assistant prosecutor on the O. J. Simpson criminal trial. His memoir In Contempt was a #1 New York Times bestseller and will become a major motion picture. (Bowker Author Biography)
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22+ Works 10,651 Members
Jess Walter was born on July 20, 1965. He graduated from Eastern Washington University. Before becoming an author, he worked as a journalist. His work has appeared in Newsweek, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and the Boston Globe. He has written one nonfiction book and several novels. His works include Every Knee Shall Bow, Over show more Tumbled Graves, The Zero, and Beautiful Ruins. His novel, Citizen Vince, won the 2005 Edgar Allan Poe Award for best novel. He was the co-author of Christopher Darden's 1996 bestseller In Contempt. (Bowker Author Biography) show less

Awards and Honors

Common Knowledge

People/Characters
Christopher Darden; Marcia Clark; Johnny Cochran; Michael Darden; F. Lee Bailey; Robert Shapiro (show all 8); Lance Ito; Barry Scheck
Important places
California, USA; Los Angeles, California, USA
Important events
O. J. Simpson murder case
Dedication
In Memory of Michael Virgil Darden January 2, 1953--November 29, 1995; Nicole Brown May 19, 1959--June 12 1994; Ronald Goldman July 2, 1968--June 12, 1994

Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but... (show all) we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.


I Corinthians 15:51-52
First words
The clerk, Deirdre Robertson, stumbled over his name, and for just a moment, a last bit of hope hung there on her voice.
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)It's what I pray for now-not just time and distance-but peace.

Classifications

Genres
Politics and Government, Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir, History
DDC/MDS
345.73025230979494Society, government, & cultureLawCriminal LawNorth AmericaUnited States
LCC
KF224 .S485 .D37LawLaw of the United StatesLaw of the United States (Federal)Criminal trials
BISAC

Statistics

Members
430
Popularity
71,984
Reviews
3
Rating
½ (3.42)
Languages
English
Media
Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
ISBNs
8
ASINs
4