Sidebar: glove fit

📄 Sidebar: glove fit — Thursday, June 15, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\JUN\15\SIDEBAR-GLOVE-FIT.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 96 of 167

◀ Redirect examination of Richard Rubin (part 2) Redirect examination of Richard Rubin (part 3) ▶

Date: Thursday, June 15, 1995 • Utterances: 20

At sidebar in the criminal trial, Cochran objects to Simpson trying on gloves while TV cameras are trained on him, arguing it would look like a 'performance.' He also wants Simpson to wear latex gloves first and to ask more questions of the witness (Rubin) before the demonstration. Ito declines to restrict the cameras, and the parties spar briefly before proceeding.

# 1 (The following proceedings were held at the bench:)

# 2 THE COURT:

We're over at the sidebar.

# 3 MR. COCHRAN:

With regard to this, I think that this is an inappropriate time for it. I think it's inappropriate at this point. My client has no objection basically, but the problem is, he doesn't want to do it with the TV cameras trained on him, all that sort of thing. I think that--I'm not sure how I want to phrase this objection. First of all, I don't want him to have to do it without having latex gloves on, and I think the evidence is such that I would like to ask more questions of this witness. This witness says he thinks anything from a medium to extra large is going to fit him. That will be helpful to us.

# 4 THE COURT:

Well, it would. Clearly, you will be able to recross after Mr. Darden finishes redirecting, and you'll ask him that question now that you know what the answer is going to be.

# 5 MR. COCHRAN:

I would ask if the Court insist that the camera be directed--he doesn't want this to seem like he's giving some kind of performance--

# 6 MR. DARDEN:

I would just say that he was more than willing to walk over to the jury and show them his hand and show them his knees and everything else when it suits his purposes.

# 7 MR. COCHRAN:

That's far different than somebody exhibiting injuries. They just got caught trying to bring some ringer gloves in here. I'll submit it, but the thing I want to indicate to the Court is that--I'll submit it to the Court. All I'm asking is with regard to this not being like some circus atmosphere. That's all I would point out.

# 8 MR. DARDEN:

I did show them to counsel. I learned that from Mr. Bailey, the glove.

# 9 THE COURT:

All right. The asking of a Defendant to don a piece of clothing or somehow to utilize some other piece of evidence is pretty clear. I don't know that I can restrict the camera.

# 10 MR. COCHRAN:

Judge, I think you're asked to rethink things every day, Judge.

# 11 THE COURT:

I know.

# 12 MR. COCHRAN:

I just think--I'm just saying to you from a standpoint of--sense of, you know, what's right. Maybe we can ask Mr. Bancroft for a wide shot, not a tight shot.

# 13 MR. DARDEN:

Why? I mean why now? It was okay before.

# 14 THE COURT:

I don't--

# 15 MR. COCHRAN:

Because we request it.

# 16 MR. DARDEN:

This is a court of law, not Live at the Improv.

KEY QUOTE

# 17 THE COURT:

All right. I'm not going to concern myself with the camera at this point.

# 18 THE COURT:

Let's proceed. All right. Let's have the jurors, please. And let me see Deputy Magnera, please.

# 19 THE COURT:

All right. Deputy Magnera, let's have the jurors, please.

# 20 THE COURT:

All right. Mr. Rubin, you may be seated. All right. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. The record should reflect we've been rejoined by all the members of our jury panel. Mr. Darden, do you have any further questions of Mr. Rubin?

Temperature

tense

Key Quotes (4)

Johnnie Cochran

They just got caught trying to bring some ringer gloves in here.

Cochran accuses the prosecution of attempting to introduce substitute gloves — a sharp accusation made casually in sidebar, suggesting ongoing glove authenticity disputes central to the criminal trial.

Christopher Darden

This is a court of law, not Live at the Improv.

Sharp retort to Cochran's request for camera restrictions; Darden's frustration is palpable, and the line underscores how theatrical the glove demonstration dynamic had become.

Johnnie Cochran

He doesn't want this to seem like he's giving some kind of performance.

Cochran tries to prevent the glove demonstration from becoming a media spectacle, requesting camera restrictions and latex under-gloves before Simpson tries on the evidence gloves.

Christopher Darden

He was more than willing to walk over to the jury and show them his hand and show them his knees and everything else when it suits his purposes.

Darden highlights Simpson's selective willingness to perform for the jury, undermining Cochran's objection as self-serving.

Evidence (1)

Informal

Gloves — the subject of the proposed try-on demonstration, with Cochran alleging the prosecution attempted to substitute 'ringer gloves'

discussed, demonstration pending

Notable Exchanges (2)

Johnnie Cochran•Christopher Darden

Cochran requests camera restrictions for the glove try-on; Darden fires back that Simpson had no problem performing for the jury before and calls the courtroom 'not Live at the Improv.'

heated

Johnnie Cochran•Lance A. Ito

Cochran pushes Ito to reconsider camera angles, suggesting a wide shot instead of a tight one; Ito declines to intervene.

strategic

Light Moments (2)

Johnnie Cochran

Cochran tells Ito 'I think you're asked to rethink things every day, Judge' — a wry acknowledgment of the trial's relentless motion practice.

Christopher Darden

'This is a court of law, not Live at the Improv.'

Credibility Attacks (1)

⚔ prosecution (implied)

accusation of evidence substitution

Cochran alleges the prosecution tried to introduce 'ringer gloves' — substitute gloves — for the demonstration, though no formal ruling or response to this claim appears in the transcript.

Objections

None recorded

Proceeding 6394 • 20 utterances

Criminal Trial

Department 103