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In Contempt
Presents an unflinching look at what really took place behind the scenes of the O.J. Simpson murder trial, from the starstruck judge who let celebrities into his chambers and a dysfunctional jury, to the intimate relationship between Darden and Marcia Clark. Reprint.
496 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
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2521 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Darden
13 books68 followersChristopher Allen Darden is an American lawyer, writer, lecturer and practicing attorney. He was a 15-year veteran of the Los Angeles County District Attorney, where he was assigned to the prosecution of O. J. Simpson. Darden gained fame during the O. J. Simpson murder case when he asked Simpson to try on the once-blood-soaked gloves.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
February 26, 2010
This was a bargain bin pickup. A castoff at the Singapore American Club library sale ... a hardback for $3 Sing (about USD2.20). I head read OJ books .. Faye Resnick, Vincent Bugliosi, OJ's own "I Want to Tell You", Jeffrey Toobin plus Dominick Dunne articles in Vanity Fair. This space is saturated with knockoff books by lawyers, jurors, cops and peripheral players ... I figured I would read it in about 10 years when I needed to get nostalgic in my retirement. But .. this is a seriously good book. Not for its recount of the trial and polemics of evidence, Judge Ito's antics and the whole OJ phenomenon. This is a very poignant testimony by a black prosecutor in the most racially-charged trial of the last century. As the race card was played out, the biggest victim was Christoper Darden who became the target of threats and abuse from blacks, accusations of being an Uncle Tom. His recount of the subtle threats, trashtalk and ridicule dished out by defense attorneys Johnnie Cochran and Flea Bailey are especially moving. It is evident that CD and his co-counsel Marcia Clark had a some kind of fling during the trial ... CD treats this with delicacy, refusing to disclose anything related to sexual intimacy, simply stating that during the trial she became "a friend for life". Her marriage imploded during the trial and her ex husband waged a custody battle while CD had his name blasted in LA's black community. His story of their relationship and how they coped with the pressure was moving. And his portrait of OJ, the man, not the myth is devastating. This book surprised me.
August 28, 2024
MURDER IN BRENTWOOD is a much better account of the crime itself. Chris Darden comes across as a nice guy but he has a tendency to blame everybody but himself for letting a suspect with literal blood on his hands get away with literal murder. The best chapters are about listening to Funkadelic ("Maggot Brain" is amazing) and his relationship with his troubled brother Michael!
April 11, 2016
I'd read this book years ago being a huge fan of Mr. Darden's and also a big follower of all things O.J. Re-read it since the mini-series came out and found many parallels from this novel and the show. Christopher Darden is in my opinion, a very intelligent man with a big heart who got a terrible rap mixed up in the Trial of the Century. A great book not only for those who follow the O.J. story, but also of Christopher Darden's upbringing and how he became the good, good man that he is.
August 2, 2008
Darden was one of the prosecutors (black, no less) in the O.J. Simpson trial and he gives overwhelming evidence, at least for me, that O.J. was guilty as sin.
August 9, 2016
From another prosecutor's viewpoint than the lead prosecutor, Marcia Clark, this book shows the trial from a black man's perspective. Chris Darden seems to be a shy person, but committed to justice. He writes with humor, candor, and appropriate sarcasm. I have less respect for Judge Ito and Johnny Cochrane than I did before reading this. I tried to keep an open mind, but I'm even more convinced that OJ is guilty, Lance Ito was star struck and inept, and Johnny Cochrane is heartless and selfish. His treatment of his "black brother" Darden was reprehensible.
Next, I'm reading Murder in Brentwood, by Mark Fuhrman. Darden and Fuhrman did not like each other, that is obvious in this book. In fairness to the prosecution, they vainly attempted to assure the court that whether or not Fuhrman was a racist cop, it in no way detracted from the evidence of the murder that pointed to OJ Simpson. Naturally, Ito caved to the defense, who made the whole trial about race. I'll be interested in reading Fuhrman's account, since I do believe his perjury conviction was wrong.
Since this trial, I haven't seen any improvements in race relations, particularly in the legal system. That is a sad commentary on our nation. I would heartily endorse this book to refresh your memory of the Trial of the Century.
Next, I'm reading Murder in Brentwood, by Mark Fuhrman. Darden and Fuhrman did not like each other, that is obvious in this book. In fairness to the prosecution, they vainly attempted to assure the court that whether or not Fuhrman was a racist cop, it in no way detracted from the evidence of the murder that pointed to OJ Simpson. Naturally, Ito caved to the defense, who made the whole trial about race. I'll be interested in reading Fuhrman's account, since I do believe his perjury conviction was wrong.
Since this trial, I haven't seen any improvements in race relations, particularly in the legal system. That is a sad commentary on our nation. I would heartily endorse this book to refresh your memory of the Trial of the Century.
January 18, 2022
This is another of the many books that came out of the November 1995 trial of OJ Simpson, a popular award-winning black NFL player, broadcaster and actor charged with the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman in June of 1994. Marcia Clark led the prosecution and Christopher Darden joined the team as co-counsel. When Simpson was acquitted most of America was shocked, with an overwhelming majority believing he was guilty and trying to understand what had gone wrong.
This is Chris Darden’s response, a book written with Jess Walter and published in 1996. In it he writes about his early life growing up in the working-class area of Richmond California, his close relationship and love for his brother Michael who died of drug abuse and AIDS and the difficulties he endured to become a successful black lawyer, harassed by black Americans who felt he had betrayed his people and turned his back on his race. He then moves on to tell the story of his experience with Marcia Clark, prosecuting OJ Simpson in what widely became known as “The Trial of the Century” with OJ defended by “The Dream Team” of high-profile lawyers led by Johnnie Cochrane.
Darden came to the case with a successful record, winning convictions in the twenty murder cases he had taken on in the past. He worked hard to win this case and was shocked when they lost. Over the length of the eleven months of the trial, he developed relationships with both the Brown and the Goldman families and writes of them with compassion and respect. The trial was a painful and difficult experience, because of what happened both inside and outside the courtroom. It was not easy being a black lawyer accusing a black hero of murder when most black Americans hoped he would be proved innocent. He received hate mail and death threats and called “Uncle Tom” by other blacks. His role placed a heavy burden on him, working in a city polarized at the time by the acquittal of four L.A. policemen accused of beating Rodney King. The fact Mark Fuhram, his star witness had made a string of racist remarks recorded on tape that was presented at the trial also fueled the energy that torpedoed the case. But the most serious blow came when Darden forced Simpson to try on the bloody glove the police found at the scene of the crime. The glove had shrunk because it had been soaked in blood. Simpson tried the gloves on while wearing latex gloves to protect the evidence and had also stopped taking the medication for his arthritis, allowing the joints in his hands to swell. There was no way Simpson's hand, now with a latex glove over his swollen joints, would ever fit in the shrunken glove. Simpson had been coached by the defense on how to approach this critical scene and had ensured the cameras were positioned to ensure everyone had a clear view of Simpson’s struggle to put on the glove. OJ was an actor and played the role the defense created for him. Cochrane’s shout, that “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit”, became the rallying cry for the defense, repeated over and over by the media. Darden had failed to heed the caution of others on his team and fell into the age-old trap of asking a question without being certain of the answer.
OJ lawyers were also able to convince the jury there was reasonable doubt about the DNA evidence, its collection and transport. The use of DNA during jury trials had just begun to be used as evidence and was presented in a way too complicated for most jurors to understand. With no witness to the murders, the DNA evidence was the only physical proof the prosecution used to link OJ to the murders and questioning it proved to be a savage blow.
Darden believed the prosecution had a strong case with a mountain of evidence stacked against Simpson and when they lost, it affected him so deeply, he vowed never to practice law again. It was the last time he stood before a jury, opting to continue his law career teaching. His contempt for what he calls OJ’s shameless defense lawyers, a racist cop named Mark Fuhram, Judge Ito who Darden says became star struck with all the media attention and failed to control the court’s proceedings and a dysfunctional jury, took their toll and the trial ultimately traveled in a direction never intended, becoming much more than whether one man was innocent or guilty of two murders.
Darden takes a long critical look at the American justice system influenced by racism, celebrity and privilege and prophesizes little hope for its future. He gives as an example the fact the Los Angeles police visited the Simpson home on nine separate occasions, responding to Nicole’s threats of domestic violence and her fear for her life yet never once dared give a popular football hero even a warning about his behavior.
This is Christopher Darden’s honest attempt to communicate his perspective of the trial and the events that surrounded it. It is well written and his honest recollection of the events during which he does not shy away from his mistakes. It also includes some interesting information of what took place behind the scenes and out of the public eye.
It proved to be an interesting read.
This is Chris Darden’s response, a book written with Jess Walter and published in 1996. In it he writes about his early life growing up in the working-class area of Richmond California, his close relationship and love for his brother Michael who died of drug abuse and AIDS and the difficulties he endured to become a successful black lawyer, harassed by black Americans who felt he had betrayed his people and turned his back on his race. He then moves on to tell the story of his experience with Marcia Clark, prosecuting OJ Simpson in what widely became known as “The Trial of the Century” with OJ defended by “The Dream Team” of high-profile lawyers led by Johnnie Cochrane.
Darden came to the case with a successful record, winning convictions in the twenty murder cases he had taken on in the past. He worked hard to win this case and was shocked when they lost. Over the length of the eleven months of the trial, he developed relationships with both the Brown and the Goldman families and writes of them with compassion and respect. The trial was a painful and difficult experience, because of what happened both inside and outside the courtroom. It was not easy being a black lawyer accusing a black hero of murder when most black Americans hoped he would be proved innocent. He received hate mail and death threats and called “Uncle Tom” by other blacks. His role placed a heavy burden on him, working in a city polarized at the time by the acquittal of four L.A. policemen accused of beating Rodney King. The fact Mark Fuhram, his star witness had made a string of racist remarks recorded on tape that was presented at the trial also fueled the energy that torpedoed the case. But the most serious blow came when Darden forced Simpson to try on the bloody glove the police found at the scene of the crime. The glove had shrunk because it had been soaked in blood. Simpson tried the gloves on while wearing latex gloves to protect the evidence and had also stopped taking the medication for his arthritis, allowing the joints in his hands to swell. There was no way Simpson's hand, now with a latex glove over his swollen joints, would ever fit in the shrunken glove. Simpson had been coached by the defense on how to approach this critical scene and had ensured the cameras were positioned to ensure everyone had a clear view of Simpson’s struggle to put on the glove. OJ was an actor and played the role the defense created for him. Cochrane’s shout, that “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit”, became the rallying cry for the defense, repeated over and over by the media. Darden had failed to heed the caution of others on his team and fell into the age-old trap of asking a question without being certain of the answer.
OJ lawyers were also able to convince the jury there was reasonable doubt about the DNA evidence, its collection and transport. The use of DNA during jury trials had just begun to be used as evidence and was presented in a way too complicated for most jurors to understand. With no witness to the murders, the DNA evidence was the only physical proof the prosecution used to link OJ to the murders and questioning it proved to be a savage blow.
Darden believed the prosecution had a strong case with a mountain of evidence stacked against Simpson and when they lost, it affected him so deeply, he vowed never to practice law again. It was the last time he stood before a jury, opting to continue his law career teaching. His contempt for what he calls OJ’s shameless defense lawyers, a racist cop named Mark Fuhram, Judge Ito who Darden says became star struck with all the media attention and failed to control the court’s proceedings and a dysfunctional jury, took their toll and the trial ultimately traveled in a direction never intended, becoming much more than whether one man was innocent or guilty of two murders.
Darden takes a long critical look at the American justice system influenced by racism, celebrity and privilege and prophesizes little hope for its future. He gives as an example the fact the Los Angeles police visited the Simpson home on nine separate occasions, responding to Nicole’s threats of domestic violence and her fear for her life yet never once dared give a popular football hero even a warning about his behavior.
This is Christopher Darden’s honest attempt to communicate his perspective of the trial and the events that surrounded it. It is well written and his honest recollection of the events during which he does not shy away from his mistakes. It also includes some interesting information of what took place behind the scenes and out of the public eye.
It proved to be an interesting read.
May 3, 2020
I read this shortly after watching the OJ doco on Netflix. It gives us a unique and first hand insight into one of the key minds in the prosecution team without the tabloid sensationalism that was present throughout the trial. More importantly Chris lets us into his life as an African American criminal prosecutor. This dilemma is discussed thoroughly and Chris explains his role as an advocate for victims with great conviction. This reminded me of the themes in Spike Lee’s BlackkKlansman where an undercover African American police officer advocates against the KKK and wants to change the system from within whilst facing exclusion from his own community. The author writes clearly and concisely but with far more creativity than a traditional lawyer. It would have been interesting to see him delve more into the mental health challenges that lawyers face, especially criminal advocates. Overall an excellent read with much more shared about Chris’s life beyond the OK trial. You don’t need to be a lawyer to enjoy this.
September 5, 2017
Autobiography, criminal justice tutorial, and a reflection on race and justice in America. The book details the drama, sacrifice, and pain that Mr. Darden endured for this trial. An insightful book on the flaws of the criminal justice system and how the burden of race in America can blind a person from making decisions based on facts and not emotions. He also does an excellent presentation for the reader to understand the burden of racism on African American culture and the broader national culture.
March 2, 2018
My favorite person from the OJ Simpson trial
My wife & I watched the recent OJ Simpson miniseries with Cuba Gooding Jr & John Travolta and it inspired me to read this book.
Chris Darden is definitely the person I most identify with in the trial. This is a short, enjoyable read on his background and the case from his perspective.
My wife & I watched the recent OJ Simpson miniseries with Cuba Gooding Jr & John Travolta and it inspired me to read this book.
Chris Darden is definitely the person I most identify with in the trial. This is a short, enjoyable read on his background and the case from his perspective.
April 29, 2016
Speechless.
May 31, 2025
Christopher Darden is the person in the OJ case I've always felt the most sorry for. It seems to me that he got the short end of the stick from everyone--the prosecution, the defense, the jury, the public... the list goes on. I enjoyed getting to read his perspective, and felt his book complemented Marcia's nicely. Reading them back to back meant I could compare how they remembered the same events.
I did think this was much better written than Marcia's. I don't know if I should attribute that to their own skill or to the skill of their respective cowriters. Part of this is rooted in the fact that Darden's story fits so perfectly in the narrative of this case. His background has so many similarities to OJ's, and his experience with race in America provides such interesting insight into the case. You can also tell how valuable he was to the prosecution for this exact reason, though I definitely think they underutilized him and his perspective.
I relate a lot to Darden. When he was describing his personality, I felt like we had a lot in common. And I appreciated his honesty about his past, from recounting his criminal history to his own personal failings as a young father. I felt like he sugarcoated a lot less than typical memoirists, which I appreciated.
His recounting of his relationship with Marcia Clark is one of the most fascinating elements of the whole book. Clark was much less explicit about the nature of their connection in hers. Darden addresses a lot of the rumors head on while also writing about how close they were in such a way that he feel like he left a lot up in the air with regards to whether they were actually ever romantically involved.
This book was a very different perspective of the trial in comparison to Clark's, partly because of Darden's race and background but also because Darden joined the case later. I liked reading about how he joined the case, and I was moved by how genuinely touched he seemed to be by Nicole, Ron, and their families. It was clear to me that he felt this case much more personally than Clark.
All in all I would definitely recommend this book, and not just for people obsessed with the OJ trial. I feel like this is interesting enough that an average reader with little interest in the case would also enjoy it and get something out of it.
I did think this was much better written than Marcia's. I don't know if I should attribute that to their own skill or to the skill of their respective cowriters. Part of this is rooted in the fact that Darden's story fits so perfectly in the narrative of this case. His background has so many similarities to OJ's, and his experience with race in America provides such interesting insight into the case. You can also tell how valuable he was to the prosecution for this exact reason, though I definitely think they underutilized him and his perspective.
I relate a lot to Darden. When he was describing his personality, I felt like we had a lot in common. And I appreciated his honesty about his past, from recounting his criminal history to his own personal failings as a young father. I felt like he sugarcoated a lot less than typical memoirists, which I appreciated.
His recounting of his relationship with Marcia Clark is one of the most fascinating elements of the whole book. Clark was much less explicit about the nature of their connection in hers. Darden addresses a lot of the rumors head on while also writing about how close they were in such a way that he feel like he left a lot up in the air with regards to whether they were actually ever romantically involved.
This book was a very different perspective of the trial in comparison to Clark's, partly because of Darden's race and background but also because Darden joined the case later. I liked reading about how he joined the case, and I was moved by how genuinely touched he seemed to be by Nicole, Ron, and their families. It was clear to me that he felt this case much more personally than Clark.
All in all I would definitely recommend this book, and not just for people obsessed with the OJ trial. I feel like this is interesting enough that an average reader with little interest in the case would also enjoy it and get something out of it.
October 25, 2020
Intimate, revealing and engrossing. In Contempt is as much about Chris Darden the man as it is about the OJ Simpson trial. in fact, it could almost be categorized as an autobiography that happens to be framed around "Trial of the Century." You really get a sense of the personal anguish Chris went through during the trial. It's maddening when you consider that he was only doing his job. I appreciated leaning about the bond that Marcia and Chris formed during the trial, Darden's struggle with fatherhood and the pressure he felt as a black man during the trial.
I'd only read one book about the trial prior to reading Mr. Darden's. (Daniel Petrocelli's fantastic, Triumph of Justice) I didn't really expect to learn much more from In Contempt but was pleasantly surprised. It was interesting to learn the glaring (and subtle) differences between the criminal and civil trials. I was already convinced of Simpson's guilt but came away even more repulsed by him and his so-called Dream Team.
I'd only read one book about the trial prior to reading Mr. Darden's. (Daniel Petrocelli's fantastic, Triumph of Justice) I didn't really expect to learn much more from In Contempt but was pleasantly surprised. It was interesting to learn the glaring (and subtle) differences between the criminal and civil trials. I was already convinced of Simpson's guilt but came away even more repulsed by him and his so-called Dream Team.
February 12, 2017
This is the fourth book I read about the 'Trial of the Century.' Darden's view is certainly as interesting as Bugliosi's, Furhman's and Clark's, but all in all, it is Marcia Clark's story that shines, saddens, and rises above them all. (Admittedly, I didn't read any books from the "other side" because the DNA evidence, as presented in the televised trial and as printed in various news sources at the time, convinced me that any non-celebrity in the world would have been convicted of the murders. But that's just my opinion, I wasn't on the jury, I certainly didn't hear all the evidence.) Certainly, as Darden points out, Judge Ito (getting off on thinking of himself as some kind of celebrity) allowed Johnny Cochran, unfortunately, to play the race card. But I believe this trial was more about O.J. as a celebrity/hero/football player than about race.
August 11, 2015
This book was written by the only black prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson case. He proved that Simpson was guilty through so much DNA evidence but that was dismissed by jurors who were more concerned with the issue of race and celebrity. This book is about domestic violence and how a wealthy celebrity got away with murder by buying his freedom with the help of The Dream Team. Johnny Cochrane turned the whole trial into a circus by throwing the race card on the table and fabricating many distractions. Justice was not served in this case. However, in later years OJ Simpson showed his true colours once again when he was found guilty of armed robbery.
September 29, 2018
This memoir is a fantastic companion to Clark's memoir, Without A Doubt. While Clark focuses mostly on the evidence against OJ and the spinelessness of Judge Ito, Darden focuses more on his personal relationships and interactions with lawyers closely involved in the case. He provides a harrowing account of public humiliation, bullying and ostracism from African American community. He also provides fascinating insight into his antagonistic relationship with African American opposing counsel Johnnie Cochran, and his nebulous possibly romantic relationship with white co-prosecutor Marcia Clark. Overall an excellent study on American race relations in the 90s.
October 25, 2014
I expected more from this book, I really did. I wanted to see what the prosecution's side of the story was as I already had a book written by the defence. Instead of a good, intriguing read about the evidence against OJ, this was more of a rant against everyone he didn't like on the case with numerous wavings of the racism card which got boring very fast for me. I barely even got to the court case before I was fed up being lectured to.
April 25, 2016
My jaw dropped, again and again.
Mr Darden brought me back in time, into the courtroom. Once again I was astonished and disgusted at the treatment of this prosecution team who were trying to do a very thankless job.
I knew there was a lot of evidence, but never to what extent. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn the truth and why some of us no longer have much faith in our legal system.
Mr Darden brought me back in time, into the courtroom. Once again I was astonished and disgusted at the treatment of this prosecution team who were trying to do a very thankless job.
I knew there was a lot of evidence, but never to what extent. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn the truth and why some of us no longer have much faith in our legal system.
August 8, 2016
Fascinating book about what went wrong in the OJ Simpson trail. Interesting information about the history of racial tension in LA, and how that played a role in the bias and ultimate downfall of this case. Very sad what a debacle this case was, and how it turned into a circus.
January 5, 2025
I was pleasantly surprised by how good this book is. It's the 7th I've read on the OJ case, and it's actually the best one as a book in its own right. Darden has a unique perspective, and he writes quite eloquently and movingly about both his life, as well as his time on the case.
Currently reading
January 28, 2008I learned that I am completely clueless about racism and prejudice.
August 29, 2016
Have read quite a few books on this trial and this one stands out as unique, sensible, and powerful
August 26, 2025
[Overall Score: ••2.9-3.3••]
This novel is part memoir and half of the prosecutions side of "The People Vs. O.J. Simpson". After first, this novel was hard to get engaged with. The earlier chapters hold some enjoyment and help shape the side of Christopher Darden that America saw in the courtroom.
Anger swarms theses pages like it did within the trial. Bitterness is here as well. The only difference is Mr. Darden's humbleness is on display as well. He admits his mistakes and yes, at times points to the defense lawyers or the media power and its presence which lingered throughout the entire courtroom. Other times his mistakes were made out of desperation to present his case or the 'trial-fatigue' he felt. Regardless if they are good reasons to his failures as a prosecutor, it is quite refreshing to see such an amount of "coming clean" and such earnestness in admission of faults. But above all, we see his side, his view of the "trial of the century".
The reason this score is given, is the fluff of his personal life. At some point this reader became very interested in Mr. Darden's personal life, [Ex. "Whats gonna happen to Michael Darden?"]. But sadly by the end of the novel, it felt like his personal life didn't really matter. Often in the novel he would finish a paragraph by saying "that's the last time I ever did this or that; or saw this person". Which just pulled me away from truly connecting with this novel of fact, of nonfiction. As well, when he begins to talk about the criminalist Dennis Fung (the crime scene 'blood-collector') it read so disingenuous and lacks solidity, it felt like Mr. Walter made the prosecutor talk about it. Everything else, every other aspect of the case and or its witnesses, were proliferated with Darden's thoughts or feeling. when it came to Mr. Fung, it was like a hard amount of flatulence one is happy to expell. Pardon this reviewers lack of tact, but he was over the criminalist like 'a fart in the wind'. Which honestly, was a little jarring since he 'dished' and 'chatted' about almost everyone including Geraldo Rivera.
However those few literary choices which these writers used, pales to the amount of insight these pages provide. Regardless of personal opinions of guilt in regards to O.J., this novel will teach you things. It will teach you more in regards to race relations during the 90's, especially in Los Angeles and as well it will remind/teach you about certain aspects of this trial that haven't been put on the historic, pop-culture mantle The Gloves, The Tapes, F. Lee Bailey racial tirade, the Bronco, all have lasted through out the years and are still viewable through our social "hindsight" glasses. But one thing this novel taught this reviewer about was the "Ice Cream Defense".
Needless to say this reviewer is a novice to this case and lived through the events as a small child. Still, Mr. Darden's anger punctuated these pages, it watermarked every part, it was an undertone. Which makes sense with everything that happened during this case to him, his partners and the overall defense's strategies. Look, his job was to send people to jail, its a different type of Mike Rowe type of job. He failed at doing that. Yet, he was never super, balistically angry with anyone in this case, except for maybe the Judge. Ito takes most of the burnt of his anger in this book. Sadly, in the end the anger is still there. But then again, it was there at the start, from youth until the trial. He knows it hurt his case and made his view more narrow when it should've been wider.
In his closing he could at least personally stand by his final remarks to the Jury. I doubt if he in later years, believes O.J. was innocent. Again this novel was published in 96' a year after the trial (according to the publishing sheet in the front of the novel). With that being said, this book give a very close account and fresh remembrance, versus 'I wrote about the case 26 years later'. It must have been a hard novel to write, to rehash, to revisit all the critical moments during a life changing experience as a lawyer. Luckily, it wasn't nearly that hard to read. The memoir stuff was useful but it made the novel more bloated than it needed to be. Mr. Darden should have taken notes from historical novels for better presentation. It's worth a read if you're interested in the subject matter. It just might take a while before you hit the Trial.
This novel is part memoir and half of the prosecutions side of "The People Vs. O.J. Simpson". After first, this novel was hard to get engaged with. The earlier chapters hold some enjoyment and help shape the side of Christopher Darden that America saw in the courtroom.
Anger swarms theses pages like it did within the trial. Bitterness is here as well. The only difference is Mr. Darden's humbleness is on display as well. He admits his mistakes and yes, at times points to the defense lawyers or the media power and its presence which lingered throughout the entire courtroom. Other times his mistakes were made out of desperation to present his case or the 'trial-fatigue' he felt. Regardless if they are good reasons to his failures as a prosecutor, it is quite refreshing to see such an amount of "coming clean" and such earnestness in admission of faults. But above all, we see his side, his view of the "trial of the century".
The reason this score is given, is the fluff of his personal life. At some point this reader became very interested in Mr. Darden's personal life, [Ex. "Whats gonna happen to Michael Darden?"]. But sadly by the end of the novel, it felt like his personal life didn't really matter. Often in the novel he would finish a paragraph by saying "that's the last time I ever did this or that; or saw this person". Which just pulled me away from truly connecting with this novel of fact, of nonfiction. As well, when he begins to talk about the criminalist Dennis Fung (the crime scene 'blood-collector') it read so disingenuous and lacks solidity, it felt like Mr. Walter made the prosecutor talk about it. Everything else, every other aspect of the case and or its witnesses, were proliferated with Darden's thoughts or feeling. when it came to Mr. Fung, it was like a hard amount of flatulence one is happy to expell. Pardon this reviewers lack of tact, but he was over the criminalist like 'a fart in the wind'. Which honestly, was a little jarring since he 'dished' and 'chatted' about almost everyone including Geraldo Rivera.
However those few literary choices which these writers used, pales to the amount of insight these pages provide. Regardless of personal opinions of guilt in regards to O.J., this novel will teach you things. It will teach you more in regards to race relations during the 90's, especially in Los Angeles and as well it will remind/teach you about certain aspects of this trial that haven't been put on the historic, pop-culture mantle The Gloves, The Tapes, F. Lee Bailey racial tirade, the Bronco, all have lasted through out the years and are still viewable through our social "hindsight" glasses. But one thing this novel taught this reviewer about was the "Ice Cream Defense".
Needless to say this reviewer is a novice to this case and lived through the events as a small child. Still, Mr. Darden's anger punctuated these pages, it watermarked every part, it was an undertone. Which makes sense with everything that happened during this case to him, his partners and the overall defense's strategies. Look, his job was to send people to jail, its a different type of Mike Rowe type of job. He failed at doing that. Yet, he was never super, balistically angry with anyone in this case, except for maybe the Judge. Ito takes most of the burnt of his anger in this book. Sadly, in the end the anger is still there. But then again, it was there at the start, from youth until the trial. He knows it hurt his case and made his view more narrow when it should've been wider.
In his closing he could at least personally stand by his final remarks to the Jury. I doubt if he in later years, believes O.J. was innocent. Again this novel was published in 96' a year after the trial (according to the publishing sheet in the front of the novel). With that being said, this book give a very close account and fresh remembrance, versus 'I wrote about the case 26 years later'. It must have been a hard novel to write, to rehash, to revisit all the critical moments during a life changing experience as a lawyer. Luckily, it wasn't nearly that hard to read. The memoir stuff was useful but it made the novel more bloated than it needed to be. Mr. Darden should have taken notes from historical novels for better presentation. It's worth a read if you're interested in the subject matter. It just might take a while before you hit the Trial.
December 26, 2022
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 all of which could have been planted, tainted, faked or whatever:
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:
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.
Read
April 7, 2018I have read many books, watched many shows, and have seen many interviews on the OJ case. I feel that Page 238, paragraph 1 of this book pretty much states why the prosecution lost the case. It states, in a nut shell, the fact that they gave up on "domestic violence" as a defense. "But Ito penalized us anyway, in a form that was unprecedented. He decided that these 'new" witnesses couldn't be called until the end of the trial, effectively breaking up our domestic violence evidence and out attempt to painstakingly paint the abusive nature of Simpsons' relationship. Of course, by the time we got to the end of our case, it had dragged on and it wold have been torture to submit the jury to more domestic violence evidence." -Christopher Darden
That is bullshit. If anything, they needed to remind the jury and bring it back to that point. I believe the prosecution gave up on domestic violence as a defense because they simply felt the blood evidence was so strong and did not anticipate the overwhelming "reasonable doubt" from Johnny Cochran, Barry Scheck, and Dr. Lee in the trial. I feel like the prosecution had just as much evidence, if not MORE, on domestic violence and it would have been the "beyond" reasonable doubt evidence they needed to actually WIN the case. In other words, they just messed up and now we are all paying for it but thankfully also learning from it. Luckily laws have been changed because of this case. Personally, I feel like the only saving grace was that this trial was televised for all to see and no one can sweep domestic violence under the rug any longer again.
That is bullshit. If anything, they needed to remind the jury and bring it back to that point. I believe the prosecution gave up on domestic violence as a defense because they simply felt the blood evidence was so strong and did not anticipate the overwhelming "reasonable doubt" from Johnny Cochran, Barry Scheck, and Dr. Lee in the trial. I feel like the prosecution had just as much evidence, if not MORE, on domestic violence and it would have been the "beyond" reasonable doubt evidence they needed to actually WIN the case. In other words, they just messed up and now we are all paying for it but thankfully also learning from it. Luckily laws have been changed because of this case. Personally, I feel like the only saving grace was that this trial was televised for all to see and no one can sweep domestic violence under the rug any longer again.
August 1, 2024
This was a wonderfully written & read account of the OJ.Simpson case, as lived by its author; co-prosecutor, Christopher Darden.
Having previously read co-prosecutor Marcia Clarke's experience of the case (without a doubt - which was a great read)... I was eager to read this book but always found it hard to find it paperback.
Chris's delivery in this audible book was so well done, though, that I'm glad I was able to read it this way.
The Simpson case is one of those things I find so infuriatingly fascinating. Should the case be retried today, with the political climate different, advances in DNA testing, armchair detectives & the average person being much more inept to the basics of crime & behaviour analysis (Thanks to the popularity of true crime podcasts, docuseries & YouTube videos) - there would be no way Simpson would have been found anything but, 100% unequivocally guilty of the crimes he absolutely committed.
Chris interweaves personal stories of his family life throughout the book, giving insightful details to the stress he was under personally as he worked the case. While this kind of material can be uninteresting in many topic related stories, I actually enjoyed this.
Highly recommended for anyone interested specificly in the Simpson case, true crime, historic cases/incidents, African American culture & memoirs.
Having previously read co-prosecutor Marcia Clarke's experience of the case (without a doubt - which was a great read)... I was eager to read this book but always found it hard to find it paperback.
Chris's delivery in this audible book was so well done, though, that I'm glad I was able to read it this way.
The Simpson case is one of those things I find so infuriatingly fascinating. Should the case be retried today, with the political climate different, advances in DNA testing, armchair detectives & the average person being much more inept to the basics of crime & behaviour analysis (Thanks to the popularity of true crime podcasts, docuseries & YouTube videos) - there would be no way Simpson would have been found anything but, 100% unequivocally guilty of the crimes he absolutely committed.
Chris interweaves personal stories of his family life throughout the book, giving insightful details to the stress he was under personally as he worked the case. While this kind of material can be uninteresting in many topic related stories, I actually enjoyed this.
Highly recommended for anyone interested specificly in the Simpson case, true crime, historic cases/incidents, African American culture & memoirs.
May 9, 2024
Deputy District Attorney Chris Darden paints a troubling picture from the OJ Simpson murder trial, from the defense lawyers dirty tricks to Judge Lance Ito’s favorable treatment of the defense side. Mr. Darden’s stunning memoir is unflinching, the death threats he received during the trial of the century. The long hours preparing witnesses and testimony to the disheartening realization that two innocent people were brutally murdered who were often lost during the proceedings. The Defence team was quite happy to shift the blame to the LAPD who they believed planted evidence. While it was clear the defendant, OJ Simpson had motive, and opportunity to have killed Nicole Brown & Ron Goldman. The physical evidence was staggering from the DNA & blood evidence, all evidence pointed to OJ Simpson, no unknown blood or DNA evidence was found at the very bloody crime scene.
But due to his celebrity, his race, and the Rodney King verdict, it was unlikely the jury would convict him. The Prosecution made a lot of critical errors but I believe OJ Simpson brutally killed Nicole Brown & Ron Goldman in June 1994.
But due to his celebrity, his race, and the Rodney King verdict, it was unlikely the jury would convict him. The Prosecution made a lot of critical errors but I believe OJ Simpson brutally killed Nicole Brown & Ron Goldman in June 1994.
May 17, 2025
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 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.
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 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.
March 25, 2025
This book, written by one of the primary prosecutors in the OJ Simpson murder trial, gives a fine background story of the author's maturation as a black child and then man in Richmond CA. This of course colored his approach and thoughts about the case. Given his background, I'm surprised at the degree of his credulity regarding Johnny Cochran's antics and the fact that the outcome hinged on racism. While Cochran's behavior was despicable, it could be argued that he was doing his job, and the true villains of the piece (other than OJ) are Mark Fuhrman and Lance Ito. Darden, despite the constant pressure, death threats, and Uncle Tom catcalls, did a good job, with minor flaws. But the outcome was unfortunately never in doubt.
So why only 3 stars? The book was overly long, and a bit repetitive. It could have used a better editor; I remember the trial well, though I have not read other accounts of it, and still wearied of it.
So why only 3 stars? The book was overly long, and a bit repetitive. It could have used a better editor; I remember the trial well, though I have not read other accounts of it, and still wearied of it.
July 17, 2020
I had to check the date when this was written as I was reading it in 2020, but the first 111 pages (written in 1996), so closely mirrored today's racial tones regarding policing.
I've read a lot of books on O.J., so I wasn't expecting much from In Contempt, but by far, this was my favorite. I have an officer friend I've known since middle school. She is a Black female detective, who is receiving her law degree. She is both black and blue and always gives the most clear, lawful, and unbiased accounts of every news wrenching racial headline that involves the police. I appreciate opinions from people like my friend and Chris Darden more than anyone who is just on one side, because they have the ability to literally understand both perspectives. They live both.
That's why I appreciated this book so much.
I've read a lot of books on O.J., so I wasn't expecting much from In Contempt, but by far, this was my favorite. I have an officer friend I've known since middle school. She is a Black female detective, who is receiving her law degree. She is both black and blue and always gives the most clear, lawful, and unbiased accounts of every news wrenching racial headline that involves the police. I appreciate opinions from people like my friend and Chris Darden more than anyone who is just on one side, because they have the ability to literally understand both perspectives. They live both.
That's why I appreciated this book so much.
September 25, 2018
This was so disappointing. I read 4 books on the OJ Simpson trial by 4 different people who had roles in this drama. This was the least sympathetic of all the characters who wrote about these events. He sounded like a petulant child who was bemoaning the fact that his job had put him in a difficult position. His cop-out that he chose to consider his role in obtaining justice for 2 murder victims as less important than his role as a black man wanting to represent black men in our country at a difficult time in our history was disappointing. Maybe he should have chosen a different occupation.
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