Is O.J. Getting A Fair Shake?

Cops Say Yes; Defense Attorney And Some Critics Aren't So Sure

(AP)  News conferences, a slew of felony charges, a perp walk in handcuffs and detention in a holding cell without bail - it's clear authorities aren't giving O.J. Simpson any celebrity breaks as he faces armed robbery charges.

Police insist such treatment is prudent for a man whose name is synonymous with a slow-speed chase from officers in a white Ford Bronco. But legal experts are questioning whether Simpson is being singled out for extra-tough prosecution in his casino-hotel robbery case as payback for his murder acquittal more than a decade ago.

"It is regrettable that America has not gotten over the O.J. Simpson criminal case," said Carl Douglas, who was co-counsel with Johnnie L. Cochran in Simpson's 1995 criminal trial.

"The fact that he is being held without bail seems unfair and over the top," Douglas said. "O.J. has always been able to satisfy his obligations to the court. He cooperated with the authorities in this case. He is not a flight risk. And he certainly can't hide anywhere."

At least six plainclothes policemen, accompanied by a handful of hotel security guards, arrested Simpson on Sunday at The Palms casino-hotel. He was accused of leading an armed heist of sports memorabilia. Simpson said he was only reclaiming possessions that had been stolen.

"By our standard, there was no major show of force," Sgt. John Loretto said.

Simpson was handcuffed and taken in a police vehicle to the Clark County Detention Center to be booked on six felonies, including two counts of robbery with use of a deadly weapon. If convicted of the charges, he could get up to 30 years in state prison on each robbery count alone.

Simpson became inmate number 2648927.

Justice of the Peace Douglas Smith, who made the decision to hold Simpson without bail, was "concerned about the flight factor" and because Simpson had no ties to the Las Vegas area, said Judge Nancy Oesterle, who addressed reporters on Monday.

Arraignment is set for Wednesday. Yale Galanter, Simpson's lawyer, said he was preparing a bond motion and will ask for Simpson's release on his own recognizance.

"If it was anyone other than O.J. Simpson, he would have been released by now," he said.

"You can't rob something that is yours," Galanter said. "O.J. said, 'You've got stolen property. Either you return it or I call the police."'

Police said they were giving Simpson no special treatment - other than keeping him separated from the rest of the general prison population for his own protection.

In June 1994, Los Angeles police gave Simpson a day and a time to turn himself in to face allegations he had killed ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. It was a courtesy, said then-prosecutor Marcia Clark, often extended to celebrities or those with no criminal record.

Instead, Simpson jumped in an SUV, apparently with a loaded gun and ready to commit suicide, and led police and media helicopters on a dramatic, televised chase before surrendering.

"The Bronco chase was a nightmare," said Clark, now a special correspondent for "Entertainment Tonight." "Certainly he has abused that courtesy, so I would not expect anyone to extend it to him again."

In a clear misstatement, Capt. James Dillon said Friday at a news conference that, because Simpson was involved, police were being extra careful to conduct "a thorough, biased and competent investigation."

But some think it might have been more than a slip of the tongue.

[nikkicatt1]

Kudos to Judge Smith for not catering to the "rich and famous". If ever there was a flight risk (be it in a Bronco or airplane), this man is it. I just think all of this is hilarious!!! How can this stuff be Simpson''s if it was sold for the judgement? And if it wasn''t - did he give it to these collectors to hide from the Goldman''s? Either way, its not his anymore.

[erintippin]

"Kudos to Judge Smith for not catering to the "rich and famous"." -Posted by nikkicatt1

"Walter Alexander, 46, of Mesa, Ariz., was released without bail, despite facing charges almost identical to Simpson''s." - from this article

You''re right, nikkicatt1, the judge sure didn''t cater to OJ. Sounds to me like the judge might have gone a little too far in the other direction.

Handcuffed my butt! One wrist cuffed, the other dangling until the officer told him to hold the other one behind his back to make it look good. Look at the footage... here we go again.

[pineapplepie]

lets play what if people, what if ten years ago half the world says that you did something, mostly whites, and than up pop the real killer, i would like to see the look on some of your faces.this is an unfair place the us,look at all of the african americans that have been put in jail over the past 20ty years to have d n a test , say that they did not do it. this man has been strip of all. just what if he did not do it . no one realy knows but jesus.

[pineapplepie]

Kudos to Judge Smith for not catering to the "rich and famous".yeah ok , kudos to jude smith who no one knows, and is looking for his fifteen minutes of fame, the rich and famous ar being catered to every day that how the world is . it did not just start, oj is not rich, and he has been defamed.

[Krazcarl]

Lets get honest where could the guy hide the no bail is just punishment because of the innocent verdict what it shows me is that he won''t be getting a fair trial here. No one was hurt only thing taken was his own property even the supposed victum is backpeddling.For some reason it has become PC to hate OJ all this hatred is getting old and not a decent example to the young.

[sunseeker6]

Didn''t OJ have to sell some of his personal property to pay his legal fees and to start paying for the Civil Wrongful Death Lawsuit? More than likely the items once belonged to him but he sold them. He got away with a double murder so he probably figures he can get away with armed robbery. Why are people defending OJ? He got away with murder because he was a famous black football player! The judge did not go to far denying bail. Due to the last time he was supposed to have turned himself in and didn''t why should he get bail this time? He was also the one who planned this, not the guy who was released w/o bail. Before going to Hell I hope he rots in prison, in the general population, and Bubba makes him his *itch.

[emsaund1]

RE: PINEAPPLEPIE -- First of all, you are correct. There have been many blacks that have been let out after DNA tests cleared them. Also, there have been many whites that have been let out as well.

The flaw in your argument is that there was all kinds of "DNA" evidence against OJ and he was still let off. Why?, because he''s black and had mostly a black jury. So what that equates to is this -- OJ was let off because he''s black, the blacks in LA dont like cops and didnt want to convict him, and once the race card gets pulled out, the blacks jump right on board.

[pared1]

I hope he goes to prison and gets a huge cell mate named Bubba who fixes OJ forever. The slime ball.

[andor3]

looks like the DA is trying to get a book deal--after OJ is acquitted, has his goods returned, the DA is fired, and OJ gets a large settlement from the LVPD for his unfair treatment...

[cepe10-2009]

Well the police and prosecutors have embellished the charges - that''s pure fact, so of course he is not being treated fairly. Both admit he didn''t have a weapon himself yet charge him as though he did.

Hopefully the patheticly overzealous district attorney and his minions lose their ability to practice law (or should I say not practice law) over this ethics breach.

[andor3]

After OJ is awarded compensation from the LVPD for his mistreatment, will he get to keep it or will the Goldman''s try to take it?

[jack3213]

Karma, baby, I say life in jail is just not enough for this evil man.

[oleander8]

"This is the kind of case that will test how fair and professional our legal system is. "

No, that test was flunked in 1995 when Simpson was aquitted.

[pared1]

I could care less if he is getting a fair shake. I know two people who didn''t get a "fair shake" and two children who didn''t get a "fair shake"

As far as I am concerned OJ can rot in the fiery place the devil inhabits for eternity.

[agnim]

"Is O.J. Getting A Fair Shake?"

A BLACK MAN IN RACIST AMERICA AND WE ASK THAT QUESTION?

Any bigoted white supremacist that is not in denial of America''s racist history, say OJ is getting a ''fair'' shake and you will be believed by the masses. LOL

[greeneyes222]

Is OJ getting a fair shake? More than fair, given his history. More than fair, from the tapes of the event. He should have reported "his" property to the police and let them handle the situation, instead of taking the law into his own hands with guns, no less. If he weren''t OJ, none of these so-called "legal experts" would be questioning the outcome at all.

[craighodge1]

Is OJ getting a fair shake? Only if they hang him.

[crystalblue3]

Oh COME ON! In this situation, he''s a celebrity first and foremost and that''s how we all should be looking at it. NOT in terms of race. I mean when the Lindsey Lohans (or Eve, or Foxy Brown or Lil'' Kim) of the world get off easy we get all angry and shake our fingers at the police, prosecutors, etc. But when OJ gets treated like a regular joe, everyone is up in arms because the police and prosecutors went too far? It just goes to show that no matter what stance anyone takes, no matter WHAT....people will be dissatisfied and cry 7 different kinds of foul.

Or post inflammatory comments like our friend Agnim. (among others)

[cmp271]

OJ needs a mental evaluation more than anything. He sounds nuts. He got people to hide his stuff so the Goldman''s wouldn''t get it and now it comes to this. The court ruled he was innocent of the murders, the civil court says he was liable. It doesn''t make sense for one to say he was innocent and the other to say he did it! The Goldmans need to stop harassing this guy. He will always have to carry the truth with him. He is 60, how much longer can he live anyway. This robbery shows he isn''t stable, and the years of being hounded have worn him down. I don''t like OJ for his racist stunt during the trial, nor do I support the Buffalo Bills for not denouncing him enough, however, the court made its ruling 12 years ago. The Goldmans are vindictive. His memorobilia should go to his kids. The Goldmans are just like their name, after the Gold, man!!! These kids lost their Mother too. Even though their Dad is OJ, they should have his football stuff, he is their father after all and was a name in football. IF I were the kids I''d sue the Goldman''s for it back.

[bxjohnson]

My name is Brian and I licked his chicken!!

[socrates392]

This guy should have already been executed!!

Posted by b48151 at 11:59 AM : Sep 18, 2007

Exactly. In this case, I''m not too concerned whether he is "getting a fair shake." 1 injustice + 1 injustice might just = justice in this case.

[rocketjl]

I am glad I am not OJ. However, it seems most of us are glad ''we'' got him. You know, I have been in a casino hotel and have gone into a hotel room. Aren''t we lucky that most everything is on tape, most of the good guys and bad guys want to testify against OJ or distance themselves from him. The police, judge and DA were/are ready,instantaneously. I am very glad I am not OJ.

[likeitis5050]

Here we go...trial by media, thanks to sleezy lawyers lined up and ready to get their leg up in the field courtesy of OJ. OJ has been living nicely considering he never did time for murder, but now, caught red-handed operating outside the law (where he lives) and suddenly it''s ''poor OJ'' all over again.

He didn''t call the police, he didn''t wait for them to do their job, and all because he''s OJ, b..it..ch! OJ don''t have to obey laws like everyone else, get it? Now why you got this poor, persecuted murderer (ooooops...never convicted) in jail and not letting him out to play golf? How is that fair...it''s OJ, remember? He..ll, he beat murder. Armed robbery is a snap.

These lawyers who come up with this kind of defense c..rap need to be run out of town.

[ov442]

ya know, i realize its about principle and rule of law being fairly administered beyond basis of notoriety or fame, BUT, this is OJ for gosh sake.
Should anyone really care about his trials?
A) almost all black people i know or have ever heard comment on him (besides lawyers) think hes guilty and make fun of him.
B) The guy does and says low integrity things because hes a jerk and feels invulnerable
C) He was pretty clearly guilty of the murders and at minimum horrendous abuse, and got off on technicalities.
Let them do what they need to do and stop defending him. Hes the WRONG poster child to defend for human rights and liberty.

[tibu987]

This low class skudgeball (Simpson), got away with murder, so is he now not being treated fairly?
How many bad things does this guy have to commit to realize that he, at best, is an illiterate or semi-literate low life like any other criminal.
Sheeeesh!

[killtheliars]

whispyseas,

your writing is really bad. If you are trying to be artistic maybe you need to go work at the local convienience store, because that is not art, it is just garbage

[tibu987]

wimpyseas: Say again? Come back when you are drug free.

bxjohnson: Your claim to fame?

[erasmus6]

"Is O.J. Getting A Fair Shake?"

WHO CARES?!!!!!

[Krazcarl]

Just stopped in to see how much hatred was being stirred up.Why do you let this man rule you like this you gave him the power.

[slim1h2o]

Hey oakishpines, you changed your screen name, I like it. whispyseas?

[gopack443]

Maybe OJ killed the wrong goldman

[usee2]

O J has healed from all his troubles and problems but America hasn''t starting from the Goldmans. If you know the principles of forgiveness, you will know the road to healing.
If O J truly did it and says today that he is sorry. The Goldmans still won''t know how to forgive. Learn to forgive. It is a powerful source for healing.

[slipster01]

A guy gets acquitted in a criminal case, then gets it up the backside in a civil case based on the same event.

Gotta love America, home to hundreds of thousands of lawyers out to make money any way they can.

Anyone ever hear of any other case like this where someone is found criminally innocent, then in a civil case is ordered to pay ANYONE for the rest of their darned life?

What gives here?

[slipster01]

A guy gets acquitted in a criminal case, then gets it up the backside in a civil case based on the same event.

Gotta love America, home to hundreds of thousands of lawyers out to make money any way they can.

Anyone ever hear of any other case like this where someone is found criminally innocent, then in a civil case is ordered to pay ANYONE for the rest of their darned life?

What gives here?

[slipster01]

A guy gets acquitted in a criminal case, then gets it up the backside in a civil case based on the same event.

Gotta love America, home to hundreds of thousands of lawyers out to make money any way they can.

Anyone ever hear of any other case like this where someone is found criminally innocent, then in a civil case is ordered to pay ANYONE for the rest of their darned life?

What gives here?

[slipster01]

A guy gets acquitted in a criminal case, then gets it up the backside in a civil case based on the same event.

Gotta love America, home to hundreds of thousands of lawyers out to make money any way they can.

Anyone ever hear of any other case like this where someone is found criminally innocent, then in a civil case is ordered to pay ANYONE for the rest of their darned life?

What gives here?

[slipster01]

A guy gets acquitted in a criminal case, then gets it up the backside in a civil case based on the same event.

Gotta love America, home to hundreds of thousands of lawyers out to make money any way they can.

Anyone ever hear of any other case like this where someone is found criminally innocent, then in a civil case is ordered to pay ANYONE for the rest of their darned life?

What gives here?

[slipster01]

A guy gets acquitted in a criminal case, then gets it up the backside in a civil case based on the same event.

Gotta love America, home to hundreds of thousands of lawyers out to make money any way they can.

Anyone ever hear of any other case like this where someone is found criminally innocent, then in a civil case is ordered to pay ANYONE for the rest of their darned life?

What gives here?

[googess]

"A big hurdle for prosecutors will also be determining who owned the memorabilia" - WHY??!!
He had a gun and assaulted someone!! Even if it was his, he still broke the law big time. I recently read that the Nev. prisons are "run" by motorcycle gangs. Hmmmmm..........doesn''t sound like a place where others would treat him like a big football star.

It took awhile, but if all I''ve read about this robbery - then let him finally go to prison and rot there or worse.

[Krazcarl]

THANKS USEE2 a voice of reason in a sea of insanity.

[marcodele]

Yes he''s getting a fair shake.

He''s on tape barging in to someone else''s private room, surrounded by thugs with guns, demanding stuff that may or may not be his, and he''s charged with robbery. That''s fair.

He has a proven history of flight to avoid prosecution, i.e. the Bronco Chase.

He has had many criminal charges filed against him in the past.

He lost a wrongful death case for which he has not paid the required judgment.

He''s a flight risk. Set a high bail. His thug friends can post bond for him, and watch him and his Nicole-look-alike only older and puffier flee the country.

Good bye, good riddance.

[grammawhamma]

I don''t know who I''m more sick of...O.J. or the Goldmans. Horse a piece.

[marcodele]

usee2: Have you ever had your mother, sister, father or brother hacked to death repeatedly with a knife until they bled to death? Was your mother or sister almost decapitated by the attack?

Try forgiving that, especially when the person who did it is playing golf for a living.

Maybe when it happens to you you''ll be able to say what the Goldmans ''should'' do. Until then, don''t be so self righteous as to impose some irrational religious halo over a gory double homicide.

[jennmarie620]

... does anyone else smell a CSI episode coming from this?

[misspp-2009]

I am not an OJ fan. That aside, he is not getting a fair shake. I am just amazed that, knowing how nuch he''s hated, he walked into this situation.

I am sick of the media.

I am sick of opportunists like Fred Goldman and all others who revel in their 15 minutes of fame.

Would anyone be as interested after all these years and would OJ be as hated if any of the following 3 scenarios replaced the current one:
1. OJ black, Nicole black
2. OJ white, Nicole black
3. OJ white, Nicole white

THE ANSWER IS NO!!!

[cryonbrian]

All of this sounds like a set up?

[whispyseas]

'' ... as much as i love to see all the naked girls dance get well soon feed the world songs all over the trails and streets and playing first aid on the trail, i love even more, much much more, seeing the big dressed men with the badges and bombs and guns and bullet proof vests dancing get sick soon tax the world songs all over the trails and streets and playing first strike on the trail as they chase the naked girls this way and chase them that way screaming all the while, get dressed you dirty ******, get dressed, this is going to hurt me alot more than it hurts you, don''t make me treat you like some kind of two year old, behave yourselfs, there''s no such thing as charity and non taxation ... ''

[marcodele]

Misspp: My answer to that would be yes. It was a no-brainer double homicide and the murderer was obviousl. Not everything is about race.

[misspp-2009]

marcodele:
then i guess you don''t believe in the criminal justice system since OJ was found "not guilty". the difference between his case & Robert Blake''s is 2 victims vs 1 victim. all other aspects are the same. where''s the continuing uproar over the Robert Blake case?