"This collection of original essays provides a critical analysis of the Simpson criminal and civil trials. Edited by communications professor Janice Schuetz and professional trial consultant Lin S. Lilley, the book focuses on telelitigation, the media's transformation of sensational trials, with celebrity defendants and victims, into telemediated forms." "The discussions focus on five "hot button" legal issues sparked by the Simpson trials: the perceived unfairness of the jury system; unprecedented calls for jury reform in both civil and criminal arenas; the fairness issues of jury nullification, wherein a jury disregards the law in a criminal case in favor of leniency; wealth and the question of "buying" justice; and ethical questions about the ways the Simpson trials were conducted, in particular the ways in which Simpson attorney Johnnie Cochran and the "Dream Team" repeatedly nudged and occasionally crossed the ethical line."--BOOK JACKET.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 193-206) and index.

1. Introduction: Telelitigation and Its Challenges to Trial Discourse / Janice Schuetz 2. The Media Spectacle and the O. J. Simpson Case / Diane Furno-Lamude 3. Opening Statements: Lasting Impressions / Lin S. Lilley 4. Detective Mark Fuhrman: The Race Card / Janice Schuetz 5. The Credibility of O. J. Simpson: "If the Shoe Fits ..." / Patricia M. Ganer 6. Final Summation: Narratives in Contrast / Janice Schuetz

7. Jury Decision-Making Processes in the O. J. Simpson Criminal and Civil Trials / Ann Burnett 8. Race and Money Matter: Justice on Trial / Ann M. Gill 9. The Trial of the Century in Retrospect / Lin S. Lilley App. A. Key Dates in the O. J. Simpson Cases App. B. Juries from the Simpson Trials.