The death of O.J. Simpson on Thursday has reignited interest in the infamous 1994 murder trial of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, which was dubbed the “Trial of the Century.” Simpson was acquitted of the murders in 1995, but two years later, a civil court jury found him liable and ordered him to pay $33.5 million to the victims’ families. In 2007, Simpson was involved in a serious armed robbery in Las Vegas that led to a nine-year prison sentence. Following his parole in 2017, Simpson lived a quiet life in Las Vegas where he played golf and interacted with fans.
The families of the victims, Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson, have continued to seek justice for their loved ones. Kim Goldman, Ron’s sister, has worked with troubled teens and launched several podcasts and Denise Brown, Nicole’s sister, has become an advocate for victims of domestic abuse. Fred Goldman, Ron’s father, has relentlessly pursued Simpson through civil courts to recover the $33.5 million judgement, seizing memorabilia and assets to satisfy the debt that Simpson refused to pay.
The legal dream team that defended O.J. Simpson during the trial included famed attorney Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr., who became known for the iconic phrase, “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” Other members of the team included Robert Kardashian, Robert Shapiro, Barry Scheck, Peter Neufeld, F. Lee Bailey, and Alan Dershowitz. Cochran and Kardashian have passed away, Shapiro continues to practice law and support scholarships for sober youths, Scheck co-founded The Innocence Project, Bailey was disbarred and passed away, and Dershowitz remains a controversial figure.
The prosecutors in the case, Marcia Clark and Chris Darden, were unable to secure a conviction against Simpson. Clark has since become a TV commentator and author, while Darden has become a defense attorney and is currently running for judge in Los Angeles. The judge in the case, Lance Ito, retired in 2015 after presiding over hundreds of trials. Brian “Kato” Kaelin, a key witness in the trial who lived in Simpson’s guest house, became a media sensation and has since appeared on reality shows and launched a clothing line.
The O.J. Simpson trial captivated the nation in the mid-1990s and its legacy continues to spark intrigue and speculation. The death of Simpson has brought a renewed focus on the key players involved in the case, from the defendant and the victims’ families to the legal team and the prosecutors. Despite the passage of time, the impact of the trial and its outcome still resonate in popular culture and the memories of those who followed the case closely.
