F. Lee Bailey – A defense attorney in the O.J. Simpson criminal trial, best known for his successful defense of Dr. Sam Sheppard in a re-trial of the murder case. In the Simpson trial, Bailey’s cross examination of LAPD detective Mark Fuhrman – which elicited Fuhrman’s denial of ever using racial slurs under oath (and which the defense easily refuted) – significantly contributed to Simpson’s acquittal. Controversy has followed Bailey since the Simpson trial, including his disbarment in the state of Florida and reciprocal disbarment in the state of Massachusetts due to his handling of stock in the Claude DuBoc case.
Paula Barbieri – O.J. Simpson’s girlfriend prior to and throughout the criminal murder trial. After dating for two years, Barbieri allegedly broke off her relationship with Simpson on the night of the Brown Simpson and Goldman murders, but then stayed with Simpson throughout the 18-month trial. Barbieri and Simpson broke up a few weeks after the trial ended. In 1997, Barbieri published a book entitled The Other Woman: My Years With O.J. Simpson: A Story of Love, Trust, and Betrayal. In an interview two years prior with Diane Sawyer, Barbieri stated, “I still believe Simpson was completely innocent.”
Marcia Clark – A California state prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson criminal trial. Clark fell under heavy criticism for “bungling” a case that many believed was clear-cut due to the DNA evidence. Prior to the Simpson case, Clark was best known for successfully convicting Robert John Bardo for the murder of actress Rebecca Schaeffer. Following the Simpson trial, Clark officially retired in 1997, and became a special correspondent for Entertainment Tonight. She also wrote a book about the Simpson case called Without a Doubt.
Johnnie Cochran – A high-profile defense attorney in the O.J. Simpson criminal trial. Prior to the Simpson trial, Cochran was known for defending a number of celebrities, including Michael Jackson, Sean “P. Diddy” Combs and Tupac Shakur, as well as for shedding light on the issue of police brutality in the African-American community. Cochran was perhaps best known for using the phrase “If the glove doesn’t fit, you must acquit” throughout the Simpson trial, a statement it is believed heavily contributed to the jury’s “not guilty” decision. Cochran died in March 2005, of a brain tumor at the age of 68.
Al “A.C.” Cowlings – Friend and former NFL teammate of O.J. Simpson. Cowlings is best known for driving a white Ford Bronco with Simpson as his passenger in a low-speed police chase on a Los Angeles freeway when a warrant was issued for Simpson’s arrest. Cowlings alleges that Simpson pointed a gun to his head and forced him to participate in the chase. In the civil trial, Cowlings pleaded the Fifth Amendment in regards to his involvement in the chase.
Christopher Darden – A California state prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson criminal trial. Darden received significant criticism for his treatment of the case, especially for the manner in which he handled having Simpson try on bloody gloves purported to be the defendant’s. The incident – in which the gloves did not fit – was one of many that led to Simpson’s acquittal. In 1995, Darden left the Los Angeles district attorney’s office and went on to teach at a number of universities and eventually to start his own firm specializing in criminal defense and civil litigation.
Alan Dershowitz – Appellate adviser for the defense team in the O.J. Simpson trial. Dershowitz, a renowned author, political commentator and professor at Harvard University, wrote of the Simpson case in his book Reasonable Doubts, “It is also not one of the most important cases of my own career.” He equated the status of the celebrity case to those such as Leopold and Loeb and Lindbergh.
Mark Fuhrman – LAPD detective at the time of the O.J. Simpson criminal trial. Fuhrman discovered the bloody glove at the murder scene of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, and he also claimed to have found the matching glove at Simpson’s residence. During the trial, defense attorneys argued that Fuhrman planted the bloody glove at Simpson’s home to implicate him for racially motivated reasons. During cross examination, the defense elicited a statement from Fuhrman that he had never used a racial slur; however, the defense procured four witnesses and a tape indicating Fuhrman had used the slur. Additionally, when the jury was absent, Fuhrman was asked if he had ever falsified police reports or manufactured evidence and he pleaded the Fifth Amendment. In 1996, Fuhrman pleaded “no contest” to perjury and received three years probation and a fine. To date, no proof of fabricated evidence has been found, but Fuhrman has not been exonerated. Fuhrman wrote a book entitled Murder in Brentwood in 1997, which criticized the prosecution and his fellow colleagues for their handling of the case.
