THE O.J. SIMPSON MURDER TRIAL

UCLA law professor Peter Arenella and Loyola Law School professor Laurie Levenson offer their take on the Simpson trial. Joining them is defense lawyer Gigi Gordon, who will rotate with other experts as the case moves forward. Today’s topic: Gloves redux!

PETER ARENELLA

On the defense: “Effective cross of a credible expert witness often emphasizes what the expert can’t say, so as to minimize what he has said. Richard Rubin could not say that the brown gloves O.J. wore in the pictures were those worn by the killer. Nor did Rubin know who else made gloves with the rare stitching found on both the killers’ gloves. Boiled down to its essence, Bob Blasier is asking jurors to believe O.J. is the victim of some rather remarkable coincidence.”

On the prosecution: “If this were an ordinary murder trial, Rubin’s expert conclusion that the killer’s gloves are the same style, brand and color as the unusual pair purchased by the victim and seen on the defendant’s hands would be devastating. But in the ‘Trial of the Century’ that exhausted jurors feel has lasted that long, Rubin’s testimony might not have such a dramatic impact. At best, it may impress those jurors who still are undecided--if there are any.”

LAURIE LEVENSON

On the defense: “After good luck earlier in the trial, the defense now faces a tougher, more conservative Judge Ito. He is less willing to take chances with the defense’s creative motions (‘de-sequestration’?), leaving Johnnie Cochran to beat a path to the court of appeal. Meanwhile, Bob Blasier must hold down the fort. He attacked Rubin as biased, particularly when he learned Rubin had predicted a prosecution victory party.”

On the prosecution: “Gloves, gloves and more gloves. When this trial first started, most people looking at photos of O.J. probably would have focused on his smiling face. Now all eyes are on his hands. Using Rubin as his narrator, Chris Darden did a good job of showing that O.J. had repeatedly worn rare gloves nearly identical to those found at the crime scenes. This presentation sure beat the prosecution’s glove demonstration.”

GIGI GORDON

On the defense: “Blasier’s in-your-face cross-examination of Rubin left the jury with a visual image as strong as all the glove photos. Picture this, says Blasier: ‘glove man’ building a shrine to the prosecution team in his office--pining away for praise, punch and an invitation to the prosecution’s ‘victory party.’ As Marcia Clark once said: ‘Get a life.’ The defense ended the day with an impassioned plea: Free the O.J. 14.”

On the prosecution: “Darden redeemed. As all good trial lawyers know, whoever said, ‘It’s not whether you win or lose that counts’ probably lost. This trial is like Rocky movies, complete with boxing match and gloves. Victory, defeat, victory. Only problem is, did the jury pay attention to the sequel? The jury may be suspicious about the new glove evidence and wonder why they’re hearing it so late.”

Compiled by HENRY WEINSTEIN / Los Angeles Times