The O. J. Simpson show is coming to town
12:12 PM PT, Sep 3 2008
Just when the Las Vegas economy needs a boost at the end of the summer doldrums, the O.J. Simpson trial starts Monday in front of Judge Jackie Glass. The only outstanding issue that might delay this much-anticipated event is an appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court by defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart asking for his trial to be separated from Simpson's case. Stewart's lawyer is also trying to delay the trial. Glass wants to go forward with one trial for both defendants and no delay. Judges usually win.
Interestingly, the same judge's behavior was being argued over in the Nevada Supreme Court on Tuesday. Glass runs Clark County District Court's special competency court that evaluates a defendant's mental capacity. According to the Review-Journal, in the article "Judge's Methods Being Reviewed," the ACLU "was concerned that Glass was sacrificing constitutional rights of defendants in exchange for court efficiency."
Of course, the right to a fair trial is at the heart of Stewart's argument to be tried separately from Simpson. Earlier, according to the Review-Journal, Glass rejected the argument from Stewart's lawyer that it would "be impossible for Stewart to get a fair trial because of Simpson's celebrity."
But win or lose on the separate trial issue, Stewart's lawyer would have to be a total neophyte to believe that any court reckoning of this saga could escape Simpson's infamy; not only does the case center on memorabilia from the career of the disgraced former football player, but also on Stewart's suspected role in participating in so many activities at Palace Station that night where he allegedly had Simpson's back.
So it seems that barring a surprise last-minute intervention from the Nevada Supreme Court on behalf of Stewart, the O. J. Simpson trial begins Monday.
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