Online Host: And we are ready to begin. Christopher Darden is here and ready to take your questions. For more than a year, Darden argued passionately and tirelessly, giving voice to the victims on the O.J. Simpson murder trial. When the case was over and O.J. Simpson was set free, he bore the anguish and disillusionment of millions of Americans - all the while battling racism from all sides.
Online Host: His book, IN CONTEMPT, traces his experiences during the trial, showing America what the cameras could not: meetings with Mark Fuhrman, deteriorating relationships between the defense and prosecution teams, a judge who let the case get out of control, and also very personal themes about racism and responsibility. We welcome Christopher Darden. Welcome everyone.
HarpoLIVE: Hello everyone!
Christopher Darden: Good evening...let me begin, first of all, to say thank you to Oprah Winfrey, and to her show, and thank you for allowing me to be here. We'll be addressing certain issues that I find important. It's true what they say about "The Oprah Winfrey Show"...she sells books. After talking with her on her show, my book placed high on the bestseller's list and I want to thank her.
Question: Mr. Darden, first may I say that I would be proud to have you represent me anytime, anywhere, and secondly, ask, has the attitude changed towards you at all, regarding the people who have called you "Uncle Tom"?
Christopher Darden: I would be honored to represent you. To be honest...I miss being in the courtroom and practicing law a great deal. And, attitudes have changed. I feel as if I can walk into any church or synagogue or temple or place of worship in this country and be received with kindness and dignity. Life is good.
HarpoLIVE: Diane5933 has our next question for Mr. Darden ....
Question: How did you react to the outcome of civil trial?
Christopher Darden: I was thrilled that the victims had finally achieved some measure of justice, though it was small. On the other hand, I was saddened that this man remains free.
Question: Have you ever thought about being a defense attorney ?
Christopher Darden: Yes, I have thought about it. Don't be surprised if I suddenly appear on the defense side of a death penalty case.
HarpoLIVE: POrdong is up .....
Question: Hi. Have you ever regretted being part of the trial of the century? If asked, would you do it again if the situation ever arose?
Christopher Darden: I regret it all the time. If I had to do it over again....no way man!
HarpoLIVE: Rahlly --- here's your question .....
Question: What would you say in your opinion was the most damaging evidence in the O.J. trial?
Christopher Darden: The blood. The blood trail.
Question: Do you believe the prosecution would have won the case with a different judge presiding? Joyce in Chattanooga
Christopher Darden: Hi Joyce! Who knows?
HarpoLIVE: Fearn .... here you go .....
Question: I loved your book. I wanted to know if you still see Marcia Clark?
Christopher Darden: I haven't seen her in the past two months. She is completing her own book. Look for it in the book stores in the next eight to ten weeks.
HarpoLIVE: Jeweljcs has a great question for Chris ....
Question: Hindsight is 20/20 - What would you have done differently to convict The Murderer?
Christopher Darden: Hindsight is 20/20. We put on enough evidence to convict this man. Obviously we made mistakes. But our mistakes should not and did not lead to his acquittal. Things happen for a reason.
HarpoLIVE: Here is a question from Sigpieces ....
Question: Do you feel that the trial has done irreparable damage to the public's respect for the legal process?
Christopher Darden: Possibly.
Question: Christopher, after all the dust has settled, do you find yourself where you want to be? Are you happy with your life after O.J.?
Christopher Darden: Life is good. I can't complain. My life has changed. I miss the old days. I miss my old friends. There's a lot more loneliness here today than prior to the trail.
HarpoLIVE: Cmittelha has our next question .....
Question: How much do you think the cameras in the courtroom affected the verdict?
Christopher Darden: The cameras and the presence of celebrities convinced some jurors that they could make money on the case. This gave the jurors a financial interest in the outcome of the case. You take it from there.
HarpoLIVE: SharGar has the next question for Mr. Darden ......
Question: Do you still remain in contact with the Brown and Goldman families?
Christopher Darden: I owe Lou Brown a call. I will be in Vegas with Kim Goldman on April 18th at a conference.
Question: Do you feel that by working for the State you were restricted from doing your job? Meaning a lot of the evidence was not introduced during the trial.
Christopher Darden: Don't listen to the talking heads. The evidence they say was not admitted but should have been was largely irrelevant. There was more than enough evidence submitted in the criminal
case to convict that man.
HarpoLIVE: Thesov is up .....
Question: Christopher, how did you react to all the "backseat" lawyers commenting on your lawyering during the trial? By the way, your book was excellent.
Christopher Darden: Thanks for buying the book. Or borrowing it. Or stealing it. It's still illegal to run over a lawyer with your car.
HarpoLIVE: Jesse3015, here's your question for Mr. Darden:
Question: Do you feel that Mark Fuhrman cost you the case?
Christopher Darden: He gave the jury a way out.
Question: Do you think that the criminal verdict 'created' racial animosities, or just brought them to the surface?
Christopher Darden: It wasn't just the verdict that created animosity. It was the way in which the court allowed the defense to try their case.
HarpoLIVE: Chgostu -- here is your question...
Question: I detected strong negative feelings between you and Mr. Cochran during the trial. Do you have any interaction with him now?
Christopher Darden: Nope.
Question: Mr. Darden, does the Simpson trial come up every day for you?
Christopher Darden: Only 50 or 60 times a day....that's all.
HarpoLIVE: Great question .....
Question: What do you think is the greatest lesson the world can learn from the trial?
Christopher Darden: RIGHT over RACE.
HarpoLIVE: Jesse3015 is up next ....
Question: Do you think it was wrong for Johnny to play the race card?
Christopher Darden: This is a joke question...right?
Christopher Darden: While Liz is looking through questions, and I have this moment, I'd like to say that I am quite angry with the situation in San Diego, and to have learned that so many young people died for no rational reason. We're only human. God knows we're imperfect. To the extent that we can, we need to put God first. We need to have faith. We need to look out for each other. I can only imagine the fear and confusion....I don't know...that caused these kids to kill themselves. My brother knew the value of life and fought to save his own with every iota of strength he had. To think there are those who are young and healthy but who would surrender something as precious as life..... it's mind boggling.
HarpoLIVE: Thanks for that Chris. EQui414, you're up next ....
Question: Do you feel it is possible for someone to use racial slurs or tell a racist joke and not be a racist?
Christopher Darden: No. But I think most of us are racists. We're all racists to some degree.
Question: Do you follow sports? Who do you want to win the basketball game tonight?
Christopher Darden: California. I'm just joking.....
Question: At first did you think O.J. was guilty or innocent?
Christopher Darden: I didn't know one way or the other. I reviewed the evidence and concluded that his guilt was obvious.
HarpoLIVE: WritrOFil takes us back to that moment .....
Question: When the jury deliberated for such a short period of time, I for one, was certain it was because the evidence was so overwhelming. Did you feel the short deliberation was a good sign or a bad sign, before you knew?
Christopher Darden: A bad sign.
Question: If you could change one thing about the trial - jurors, questions, judge, etc., what would it be?
Christopher Darden: All three.
Question: What are you future plans? Going back to the courtroom or going on to public speaking etc.?
Christopher Darden: I'm going to teach law. Look for a novel early next year. I'm going to drive across the country sometime during May. I'm going to kick it with the homeys!
Question: What do you think about the deciding vote in the 4-4 decision in the Supreme Court about Constitutionality of Affirmative Action?
Christopher Darden: It speaks to the divisive nature of the issue. Those in affirmative action, the worse thing that can happen to this country, in this point and time, would be to lose it. You can be assured that the so called 'racial divide' will be widened if that happens.
Question: Mr. Darden, in your professional opinion, why didn't the police obtain a warrant before entering the Simpson property the night of the murders?
Christopher Darden: Read my lips: They didn't have to. The Constitution does not require the police to get a warrant under circumstances like those with Bundy. Trust me on this one. I'm a Law Professor!
HarpoLIVE: JScharle --- you've got a great question for all of us to consider.....
Question: What can each of us do to help make race relations better in this country?
Christopher Darden: The first step is recognizing that you have a problem. We can fix this racial problem. But, it's going to take a great deal of time and effort for all of us. We have to believe that we're all the same. It isn't our race defines us, it's our character...our faith.
Question: What is your reaction to Mark Fuhrman's new book and statements about the case that he has recently made to the media ?
Christopher Darden: Mark Fuhrman makes me puke. The guy collects Nazi swastikas. He doesn't like blacks, Jews, or women. To buy his book is to support his ideas. Beyond that, the book just plain stinks.
Question: I reads your book in it's entirety. I enjoyed it. I know that your life will never be the same. Do you think that O.J. can sleep at night? And. do you sleep now that it's over?
Christopher Darden: I'm sure O.J. sleeps at night. He doesn't care about Nicole and Ron....or their families. His only concern is O.J.
Question: I think O.J. will get what's coming to him in the "next life." Do you agree or disagree?
Christopher Darden: I agree. We'll all get ours in our next life. O.J., Johnny, Bob, Cliff, Marcia, Joyce from Chattanooga. None of us will escape judgment.
HarpoLIVE: JOHNMISUR has our next question ....
Question: Is televising trials on live TV the wrong thing to do?
Christopher Darden: Oh, yeah. Definitely.
Question: Mr. Darden, how do you feel about your decision to have Mr. Simpson try on the gloves?
Christopher Darden: If you want to know the truth about the glove situation, you should read a book by Hank Goldberg. I feel fine.
HarpoLIVE: Natesfolk .... here you go...
Question: Do you think O.J. intended on killing Nicole when he went to her house that night?
Christopher Darden: Well, he went there in Bruno Magli's, a sweatsuit, a knit cap, leather gloves and carried a big knife. What do you think?
Question: Mr. Darden, I just finished reading your book and I thought it was well written and full of facts. Before the book I thought 'innocent' ... now I have questions. Thank you for that. Good luck in whatever you do.
Christopher Darden: Thank you for being open minded enough to at least consider the possibility. Where were you when we were looking for jurors?
HarpoLIVE: Big question for Mr. Darden ....
Question: What reforms if any would you make to the judicial system?
Christopher Darden: Perhaps judges ought to take competency exams before assuming the bench. Sort of like a JSAT. (laughs)
Question: Mr. Darden: do you have knowledge of Luminal (to reveal blood) being used on the Bronco, and if it was, did it show that there had been attempts made to clean up the Bronco?
Christopher Darden: Luminal was used. There was no attempt to clean up the Bronco.
HarpoLIVE: BobSchin has our next question .....
Question: Chris, I enjoyed your book very much. Is there any evidence which in retrospect you wish the prosecution would have used in the trial?
Christopher Darden: Nicole's diary. Nicole's call to the shelter. I wish we had discovered the photos of Simpson wearing those ugly shoes. And, by the way, those shoes really were UGLY! (laughing)
Question: I loved your book. It should be required reading for students, not because of the O.J. trial, but for your experiences with gang activity and your role in society. I feel helpless sometimes, as a white middle class female...How to make a difference? Any advice?
Christopher Darden: You CAN make a difference. Take it upon yourself to approach, to get to know others who don't look like you. We're all so afraid to talk to each other. Black people don't bite....I don't imagine white's do either. We're all in this together, we need to learn to get along. Don't give up. Thanks for hanging out with me. I have to go with Arizona, they are from the PAC 10. Take care of yourselves. Don't make any rash decisions. Until next time...good night.
Online Host: Unfortunately we are out of time, but want to thank you all for joining us. Thank you also to Christopher Darden for being here and for giving us an inside view of the trial that has captivated America. We wish you all the very best. His best-seller, IN CONTEMPT, is available everywhere. Goodnight everyone.
