This Day In History, 1995: O.J. Simpson Acquitted
Today is the tenth anniversary of the O.J. Simpson acquittal.
It's not that hard for people to find more information about it, for anyone reading this who doesn't recall the events. The case contributed a lot of images to our popular culture, including the slow-speed chase on the California freeway, the "Dream Team" of lawyers Simpson hired, the pictures of Judge Ito presiding in his courtroom, etc.
On a personal note, I recall two things. The chase took place just around the time I was leaving for Clarion, so I barely knew what the fuss was about over the next few weeks. (Clarion existed in a sort of news blackout.) And when the acquittal took place, all the students at the school where I was teaching had gathered in the dining hall to watch it live on TV, so my Physics class started late.
That was a long trial process. I remember other criminal trials starting and ending within the time line of the Simpson trial.
It's not that hard for people to find more information about it, for anyone reading this who doesn't recall the events. The case contributed a lot of images to our popular culture, including the slow-speed chase on the California freeway, the "Dream Team" of lawyers Simpson hired, the pictures of Judge Ito presiding in his courtroom, etc.
On a personal note, I recall two things. The chase took place just around the time I was leaving for Clarion, so I barely knew what the fuss was about over the next few weeks. (Clarion existed in a sort of news blackout.) And when the acquittal took place, all the students at the school where I was teaching had gathered in the dining hall to watch it live on TV, so my Physics class started late.
That was a long trial process. I remember other criminal trials starting and ending within the time line of the Simpson trial.
It'll probably become even more so, I'd imagine.
I mean, the reading of the verdict would've ended up going like this:
"I hold in my hand the verdict in this case. But, I've realized that for the only time in my life, I have a captive audience of 100 million or so people who will keep watching until I read the verdict. So, I'm going to start off with a rendition of "My Way", followed by my best jokes, then..."