Frank Schmalleger is director of the Justice Research Association, a think tank focusing on issues of crime and justice. He is author of a number of book on criminal justice and here turns his talents to the O.J. Simpson trial--the Trial of the Century. Reader will relive the trial from the jurors' perspectives with this powerful, fair, and heart-wrenching book.

In Trial of the Century, acclaimed author Frank Schmalleger provides a self-contained, accessible account of the criminal and judicial proceedings of the O.J. Simpson double murder trial. The text draws from the unrivaled documentation of this event to guide students through the workings of America's criminal justice system. Schmalleger also reaches beyond the crime scene and court room to explore the psyche of American society as it relates to the trial and the events surrounding it.

Transcripts of live trial coverage of the O.J. Simpson trial.

O.J. Simpson was an American football player known for his speed and elusiveness. As a collegiate player, he was named All-American (1967-68), played in two Rose Bowl games, and won the Heisman Trophy (1968). His trial on murder charges in 1995 was one of the most celebrated criminal trials in American history. This narrative puts the final touches on the complicated portrait of O.J. Simpson. Who is the man hiding beneath the smooth-talking persona? What happens when we allow ourselves and our society to become a totem of mendacity? What harm does it do to us to live a little but lie a lot?

Arguing that there is no better opportunity to teach about the law than when a sensational trial overwhelms the media, this booklet outlines the legal issues involved in the O. J. Simpson trial and presents teaching methods for introducing these issues to students. In a discussion of the trial phase, the booklet explains the concepts of reasonable doubt, preponderance of evidence, elements of murder, special circumstances as well as the categories of direct and circumstantial evidence. Sections on the sentencing and appeals phases of the trial describe the significance of aggravating and mitigating factors and the grounds and procedures for appeal. A question and answer column elucidates the most frequently asked legal questions regarding the trial such as Simpson's plea, the evidence, the relevance of DNA tests, the likelihood of Simpson testifying, and the significance of pretrial publicity. The teaching methods outlined in the booklet call for students to complete and discuss a worksheet on the facts of the trial and to play the role of judge in evaluating the evidence. The booklet also provides the results of a poll of 311 attorneys taken in September, 1994 on the Simpson trial. A copy of the questionnaire is included for distribution to students. A glossary explains the legal terms used throughout the booklet. (JD)