Christopher Darden

Christopher Allen Darden (born April 7, 1956) is an American lawyer, writer, lecturer and practicing attorney. He was a 15-year veteran of the Los Angeles County District Attorney, where he was assigned to the prosecution of O.J. Simpson. Darden gained fame during the O.J. Simpson murder case when he asked Simpson to try on the once-blood-soaked gloves.

Biography

Darden received his B.S. in Criminal Justice Administration from San Jose State University (1977) and his law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law (1980)^[1].

Darden lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Marcia Carter, and his four children, Jenee, Christopher, Jr., Tiffany, and Chase.

Career

During his tenure as a prosecutor, he was the Assistant Head Deputy Attorney of the Special Investigations Division. There for 6 years, his division investigated corrupt public officials, election law violations and police officer shootings and allegations of excessive use of force by police. Past assignments also included the Hardcore Gang Division and the Major Crimes Division. He has tried 27 homicide cases.

After leaving the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office in 1995, Darden joined the faculty at California State University, Los Angeles, where he taught criminal law. That same year, he was appointed Associate Professor of Law at Southwestern University School of Law, Los Angeles. Darden taught and specialized in criminal procedure and trial advocacy. He left the law school in 1999 and immediately started his own firm, Darden & Associates, Inc., specializing in criminal defense and civil litigation. Darden continues to be an advocate against domestic violence and is active in the National Bar Association, American Trial Lawyers Association and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

In 1998, Darden received the Crystal Heart Award from Loved Ones of Homicide Victims, an organization devoted to aiding families that have suffered the loss of loved ones as a result of violence. In 2000, he was recognized as "Humanitarian of the Year" by Eli Horne, a California shelter for abused children and women.

Darden has lectured at various colleges and universities, including but not limited to, Indiana University, University of Pittsburgh, Yale, University of Miami, Mercer University, Pennsylvania, Case Western and Georgia State University. He has also spoken on a variety of legal and social issues at major fundraisers, state and regional bar association convention, and corporate gatherings.

Darden is a former legal commentator for CNN, Court TV, NBC and CNBC, and a frequent guest and commentator on CNN, Fox News Network and Court TV. He has appeared on every major television news or talk show. He has made guest appearances on Touched By an Angel, Girlfriends, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Muppets Tonight, Roseanne, and the movie Liar Liar. He is the former principal attorney in the syndicated legal show Power of Attorney.

Darden is also a writer. He is the co-author of the former number one New York Times best seller, In Contempt (1996), The Trials of Nikki Hill (1999), and LA Justice (2000). In September 2002, he published The Last Defense, a crime thriller written with Dick Lochte.

He is currently of Counsel to THE FOXX FIRM, PLC, a private criminal defense and civil litigation firm in Culver City, California.

Life after the Simpson trial

After the Simpson trial, Darden left the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office in 1995 and joined the faculty at California State University, Los Angeles, where he taught undergraduate criminal law. That same year, he was appointed Associate Professor of Law at Southwestern University School of Law. Darden taught and specialized in criminal procedure and trial advocacy. He left the law school in 1999 and started his own firm, Darden & Associates, Inc., specializing in criminal defense and civil litigation. In December 2007, he was considered for elevation to a judgeship by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.^[2]

In an interview by Oprah Winfrey that aired February 9, 2006, Darden stated that he still believes Simpson to be guilty. He also added that he was nearly as disgusted with the perjury of Mark Fuhrman as by the brutal murders of Ronald Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson.

References

1. ^ http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=94959
2. ^ "Ex-O.J. Simpson Prosecutor Christopher Darden Seeking Judgeship", Metropolitan News-Enterprise, 18 December 2007, p. 3.

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Name	Darden, Christopher
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Date of birth	April 7, 1956
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