In this Book
- Anatomy of a Trial: Public Loss, Lessons Learned from The People vs. O.J. Simpson
- Book
- 2008
- Published by: University of Missouri Press
summary
The People vs. O. J. Simpson ranks indisputably as the trial of the century. It featured a double murder, a celebrity defendant, a perjuring witness, and a glove that didn’t fit. The trial became a media circus of outrageous proportions that led the judge to sequester the jury, eject disruptive reporters, and fine the lawyers thousands of dollars. Now an insider at The People vs. O. J. Simpson reveals the untold story of the most widely followed trial in American history and the indelible impact it has had on the judiciary, the media, and the public.
As the Los Angeles Superior Court’s media liaison, Jerrianne Hayslett had unprecedented access to the trial—and met with Judge Lance Ito daily—as she attempted, sometimes unsuccessfully, to mediate between the court and members of the media and to balance their interests. In Anatomy of a Trial, she takes readers behind the scenes to shed new light on people and proceedings and to show how the media and the trial participants changed the court-media landscape to the detriment of the public’s understanding of the judicial system.
For those who think they’ve already read all there is to know about the Simpson trial, this book is an eye-opener. Hayslett kept a detailed journal during the proceedings in which she recorded anecdotes and commentary. She also shares previously undisclosed information to expose some of the myths and stereotypes perpetuated by the trial, while affirming other stories that emerged during that time. By examining this trial after more than a decade, she shows how it has produced a bunker mentality in the judicial system, shaping media and public access to courts with lasting impact on such factors as cameras in the courtroom, jury selection, admonishments from the bench, and fair-trial/free-press tensions.
The first account of the trial written with Judge Ito’s cooperation, Anatomy of a Trial is a page-turning narrative and features photographs that capture both the drama of the courtroom and the excesses of the media. It also includes perspectives of legal and journalism authorities and offers a blueprint for how the courts and media can better meet their responsibilities to the public.
Even today, judges, lawyers, and journalists across the country say the Simpson trial changed everything. This book finally tells us why.
Table of Contents
Download Full Book
- Title Page, Copyright Page
- pp. 2-9
- Chapter 1. To Here from There
- pp. 9-14
- Chapter 2. In the Beginning
- pp. 15-23
- Chapter 3. Careening Off Track
- pp. 24-34
- Chapter 4. Pressing Issues
- pp. 35-39
- Chapter 5. Pack Jackalism
- pp. 40-62
- Chapter 6. Seeing Stars
- pp. 63-70
- Chapter 7. Getting the Picture
- pp. 71-106
- Chapter 8. Who’s to Judge?
- pp. 107-129
- Chapter 9. If It Please the Court
- pp. 130-141
- Chapter 10. Judges Judging Judges
- pp. 142-152
- Chapter 11. More Craziness
- pp. 153-162
- Chapter 12. Aftermath
- pp. 163-173
- Chapter 13. From There to Here
- pp. 174-188
- Chapter 14 . . . And Beyond
- pp. 189-203
- Chapter 15. A Blueprint
- pp. 204-214
- Postscript: Where Are They Now?
- pp. 215-217
- Bibliography
- pp. 239-240
- Acknowledgments
- p. 241
Additional Information
ISBN
9780826266552
Related ISBN(s)
9780826218223
MARC Record
OCLC
868217519
Pages
266
Launched on MUSE
2014-01-01
Language
English
Open Access
No