In Contempt

Rating:
Summary: WHY THE "TRIAL OF THE CENTURY" WAS LOST
Review: CHRIS DARDEN TRIES TO EXPLAIN THE FACTORS THAT LED TO THE ACQUITTAL OF O.J. SIMPSON. WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE TO BLAME- JUDGE ITO, THE JURY, THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, ETC- DARDEN IS RELUCTANT TO ADMIT ANY SHORTCOMINGS ON THE PART OF THE PROSECUTION. THE ONLY EXCEPTION IS WHEN HE ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS MISTAKE IN HAVING SIMPSON TRY ON THE GLOVE. ASIDE FROM THIS, THE BOOK IS WRITTEN WITH GREAT SINCERITY AND HONESTY AND IT DOES A GOOD JOB EXPLAINING TO THE READER SOME OF THE HAPPENINGS THAT WENT ON BEHIND THE SCENES THAT FEW WOULD KNOW ABOUT. DARDEN PROBABLY COULD HAVE LEFT OUT MUCH OF THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOK WHERE HE DETAILS HIS LIFE STORY. THE BOOK SHOULD HAVE CONCENTRATED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON THE TRIAL ITSELF

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: 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: 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!!

Rating:
Summary: Read why no jurors were persuaded
Review: Several reviewers have pointed out the chief positive feature of this book: it may make you disrespect Mr. Darden less.

I had hoped to get more insight into the famous glove incident. The account herein may be exactly what Darden's reasoning was. If so, more's the pity! Darden did not want to let the Dream Team run a scam so he ran it for them? Good thinking!

Dershowitz's account of the glove incident, baffling though I find that account, is superior: F. Lee Bailey impugned Darden's manhood and Darden, like a rube, fell for it.

Of course, the glove demonstration did not much impress anyone (including the jurors, I suspect) beyond showing that the Amateur Hour had returned to television.

Darden's rank speculations about Simpson's motives are no compelling in this book than they were in the trial.

In sum, read this book if you would understand just how incredible the prosecutors were.

Rating:
Summary: A personal message from Darden to O.J.
Review: The beginning of this book packs a punch that will take your breath away as Darden, one of O.J.'s prosecutors, personally addresses the man he believes to be a savage murderer, and he holds back nothing. Speaking in a tone that tells O.J. he knows just what happened, how he watched Nicole that night from outside the window as she lit the candles around the tub, a ritual the two of them enjoyed together, but not anymore. He bludgeons O.J. with his words as he describes the rage he must have felt to know she had other lovers. Then he goes on to describe the frenzied murder that left Nicole's neck severed to the spinal cord and how an innocent Goldman showed up at the most inopportune time. It left me chilled.

This book is filled with facts. Indisputable facts that will leave you wondering how a murderer walked free. Darden goes into the race card played by Johnnie Cochran and how it threw all chances for justice away, leaving a jury that made a disastrous decision in a matter of minutes. This is a most enlightening book that paints a clear picture of the hours of testimony. The day the verdict was announced in court was the last day Darden would stand before a jury. He has now taken a teaching position where he can share his brilliance with those not yet tainted by the system. Kelsana 1/29/02

Rating:
Summary: Just another racist
Review: There are a number of reviews here that talk about this books outline and no shortage of comments on the main subjects guilt or innocence. I, therefore, will just tell you my impressions of the book. All I wanted was details on the trial; I really did not care about his upbringing, college days, or pre trial work experience. As far as the trail info went, it was worth wading through the aforementioned items. The book just had a ton of good old fashion, gossip style details and facts that kept me interested until the end. The writing style was good and fast paced. The author also did a very good job of explaining his feelings throughout the book. To lose on such an important manner and in such a public way can be sole destroying and the author does a very credible job of describing it. Overall the book is interesting and well worth the time to read it.

Rating:
Summary: chris is my hero
Review: This book was better than I expected, not because of the insight into the trial but because of the insight into race relations from a black professional. I was extremely impressed with Mr. Darden's ability to explain the emotions and thoughts that blacks have about whites. From the beginning , Mr. Darden expresses his beliefs that blacks think differently than whites, but are fair, honest, and hard-working, despite the fact that many whites think otherwise. Mr. Darden's early optimism that the jury would deliver a verdict based on the evidence led me to think that he really believed it. I believed a mostly black jury would acquitt Orenthal James Simpson but I was hopeful they would not. The verdict left me wondering if blacks can move past their own racial biases. It appears that they percieve injustices to individual blacks as an injustice to their race. Though I have not read "The Darden Dilemma," I believe it presents just that ---- that even many prominent black people feel that they are treated unfairly because of the color of their skin.

I really enjoyed Mr. Darden's stories of growing up, getting an education, enjoying his family (especially his grandmother) and the other personal experiences he had. I am so sorry that his closest friend, his brother, Michael, is no longer with him.

Mr. Darden, excellent book. It is unfortunate that many blacks are not as open-minded as you. It is also unfortunate that many whites do not respect any race other than their own and are happy to continue to victimize minorities. There is so much ignorance in this country. Thank you for educating me. I am a better person because you shared your life experiences.

Rating:
Summary: Enlightening, honest
Review: This book was better than I expected, not because of the insight into the trial but because of the insight into race relations from a black professional. I was extremely impressed with Mr. Darden's ability to explain the emotions and thoughts that blacks have about whites. From the beginning , Mr. Darden expresses his beliefs that blacks think differently than whites, but are fair, honest, and hard-working, despite the fact that many whites think otherwise. Mr. Darden's early optimism that the jury would deliver a verdict based on the evidence led me to think that he really believed it. I believed a mostly black jury would acquitt Orenthal James Simpson but I was hopeful they would not. The verdict left me wondering if blacks can move past their own racial biases. It appears that they percieve injustices to individual blacks as an injustice to their race. Though I have not read "The Darden Dilemma," I believe it presents just that ---- that even many prominent black people feel that they are treated unfairly because of the color of their skin.

I really enjoyed Mr. Darden's stories of growing up, getting an education, enjoying his family (especially his grandmother) and the other personal experiences he had. I am so sorry that his closest friend, his brother, Michael, is no longer with him.

Mr. Darden, excellent book. It is unfortunate that many blacks are not as open-minded as you. It is also unfortunate that many whites do not respect any race other than their own and are happy to continue to victimize minorities. There is so much ignorance in this country. Thank you for educating me. I am a better person because you shared your life experiences.