Rating: 
Summary: Required reading
Review: I had to rethink my position on O.J.s innocence. Chris darden is a very profound writer and brilliant attorney. Too bad he was used as a scapegoat
Rating:
Summary: This book is a must-read.
Review: I have just finished this book and am totally impressed. Finally there is some bold-faced truth told about the Simpson case - something we all need after the ridiculous media circus of the first trial. Mr Darden sets the record straight about so many things that were warped by the media and the defense. I was impressed, too, that the book was so personal. Reading about his childhood and early adulthood, I could understand his approach to the trial. He has no apologies to make
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting and thought provoking
Review: I must confess, I was an OJ Simpson trial groupie. I often wondered if the facts of this case, without names, race or economic and professional status revealed, there would have been an appropriate verdict.I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book was not going to be completely devoted to rehashing an obvious miscarriage of justice. I appreciated the story of Darden, himself. As a white woman, I could not possibly begin to understand the culture from which Darden came from, nor appreciate the harrassment he would endure by prosecuting a fellow black man. And, that is only what Darden and Simpson have in common, the color of their skin. I believe Simpson was aquitted due more to the fact that he is a sports celebrity rather than his race. I am haunted by the fact that a young woman predicted her death and that the killer would get away with it. I used to drive to work past Nicole Brown's graveyard - a daily reminder that women every day are beaten and killed by their "loved" ones.
Rating: 
Summary: Just another racist
Review: I see where there have been books! written analyzing and questioning Christopher Dardens loyalty to his "people". Well
never fear, if you read his book you will learn that Christopher A. Darden is a racist. He should of never served on this trial.
Both him, Marcia Clark and judge Ito should have never been assigned to this trial. The whole thang was pay back for Rodney King anyway. Hey, it never ends. Be sure and get the book thru your library tho. You don't want to support a racist.
Rating:
Summary: Just another racist
Review: I see where there have been books! written analyzing and questioning Christopher Dardens loyalty to his "people". Well
never fear, if you read his book you will learn that Christopher A. Darden is a racist. He should of never served on this trial.
Both him, Marcia Clark and judge Ito should have never been assigned to this trial. The whole thang was pay back for Rodney King anyway. Hey, it never ends. Be sure and get the book thru your library tho. You don't want to support a racist.
Rating: 
Summary: Surprising
Review: I sincerely did not like Darden before I read this book. I too considered him to be an Uncle Tom and a traitor to his race. However, I changed my mind after reading the book. I now see Darden as a man who stood up for what HE believed was right. Still there is a bit of bias on his part towards OJ. I have to wonder if his desire to convict OJ came out of belief in OJ's guilt or if Darden wanted to convict OJ for being a somewhat poorly educated man who Darden feels was unjustly rewarded with riches. I feel as though Darden's ideas about the race factor in the trial were a bit warped considering the fact that if Furhman lied aobut his racial epithets, he would surely lie about planting evidence.
Rating:
Summary: Darden Has Nothing to Be Ashamed About...
Review: I was a junior in college when the O.J. Simpson verdict was announced in October 1995, and I bought Chris Darden's book as soon as it was published. I was (and still am) inspired by Darden's story of how he grew up, why he decided to become a lawyer, and all of his personal and professional trials, tribulations, and triumphs - not to mention the guts that it took to agree to be on the prosecution team of "the trial of the century." Reading about all of the ostracism that Darden suffered by blacks in L.A. (not to mention being all but skewered in the court of national black public opinion) enraged me. The fact that he was labeled a "sellout," "Uncle Tom," and a "race traitor" of the worst kind for prosecuting (as was his job) a wealthy black celebrity athelete - whom most people, including blacks, knew was guilty as hell! - made me realize as a young black man that sometimes we as blacks indeed are our own worst enemy. As Darden poignantly points out, supporting a black man who, based on the evidence, murdered his white wife and her friend is not "getting back at the [white] man." To add insult to injury, after the verdict and subsequent black celebrations, some black lawyers group decided to "honor" Darden at a dinner - with Johnnie Cochran as the guest speaker, no less - with what I'll term a BLACK GUILT-ASSUAGING AWARD. This was basically their way of saying to Darden, after taking him to the public opinion woodshed for over a year, that "You're still 'down' with us. You're welcome back into the community." In accepting his award, Darden, to his credit, let them know: "You don't have to welcome me back into the community, because I never left." Christopher Darden has nothing to be ashamed about. He honored the legal profession by doing his civic duty to the best of his ability as an officer of the court AND the law. We could all learn a lot from his example.
Rating:
Summary: Surprising
Review: I was a teacher at the time of the OJ trial, and as a result, ended up spending a lot of time that summer watching the trial. I have read nearly every book written on it and actually found this book on the clearance rack at a book store. I am an avid reader--I have been know to read 2 to 3 books a week. I can honestly say, OJ or no OJ, that this was the best book that I have EVER read. I could not put it down, nor could anyone in my family. My husband doesn't even like to read and he was reading it over my shoulder during a flight. I found his story incredible. What a different prospective I have about him now!
Rating:
Summary: From one trial junkie to another...
Review: I was a teacher at the time of the OJ trial, and as a result, ended up spending a lot of time that summer watching the trial. I have read nearly every book written on it and actually found this book on the clearance rack at a book store. I am an avid reader--I have been know to read 2 to 3 books a week. I can honestly say, OJ or no OJ, that this was the best book that I have EVER read. I could not put it down, nor could anyone in my family. My husband doesn't even like to read and he was reading it over my shoulder during a flight. I found his story incredible. What a different prospective I have about him now!
Rating:
Summary: A better title "It was their fault, not mine"
Review: I'm a California trial attorney (not criminal). Mr. Darden's book has value in demonstrating just exactly how a trial should NOT be approached. Mr. Darden has clearly misplaced his objective. While many disagree with the verdict, Mr. Darden knew (or should have known) at the outset, that we have an adversary system. His book attacks that theory and demonstates his unwillingness to accept it's presence and prepare for it. Instead he "whines" and "complains" about everyone and everything involved.
Mr. Darden is an African-American attorney who is proud of his heritage, as he should be. But it is not an excuse for the reality of trial law. It is a factor to be dealt with just as any other. Mr. Darden continually attacks the "Dream Team" for their tactics, Judge Ito for his rulings and the jury for their reactions. Mr. Darden fails horribly in addressing his presence in the court and his opportunity to oppose all that he complains about. The book recounts his early years in Richmond, CA. and his relationship with his brother Michael. Many references are made to Micheal (who died of AIDS days before the verdict was announced) and his relationship with him. The decision to place Mr. Darden in the high pressure situation of the Simpson trial in light of his brother's condition is very questionable. He seemed extremely preoccupied with his brother. Mr. Darden seemed emotionally out of his league and should never have been assigned the task. If Mr. Darden made a mistake ( a rarity
in his opinion) it was given very short shrift. If error occurred at another's hand, whether prosecution or defense, pages would be devoted to it. The "race card" was coming and any good lawyer would have seen it, prepared for it and, using appropriate legal decorum, fought it. Mr. Darden "whined" about it! He refused to be present in the courtroom when Mark Furhman "took the 5th". That was nothing short of childish. His responsibility was to be in that courtroom...not "whimpering in the corner" because
he didn't "get his way"!! Professor Gerald Uelmen described this book accurately recently on "Larry King Live" when he desribed Mr. Darden's book as "pre-pubescent pouting". Mr. Darden states in his book that he doubts if he will ever practice law again. A wise decision!!
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