Recross-examination of Richard Rubin

📄 Recross-examination of Richard Rubin — Friday, June 16, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\JUN\16\RECROSS-EXAMINATION-OF-RICHARD.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 97 of 167

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

Witness: Richard Rubin
Examiner: Johnnie Cochran
Called by: Prosecution • Date: Friday, June 16, 1995 • Utterances: 18

Cochran conducted a brief recross of glove expert Richard Rubin, lasting only a few exchanges. He first established that Rubin had spoken with prosecutor Darden before taking the stand, then quickly pivoted to lock in Rubin's own testimony: the Aris Leather gloves are designed to fit snugly and require deliberate effort and energy to remove — they do not simply fall off.

# 1 MR. COCHRAN:

Yes, your Honor. Thank you very kindly, your Honor.

RECROSS-EXAMINATION BY MR. COCHRAN

# 2 MR. COCHRAN:

Have you--you of course talked to Mr. Darden before you took the witness stand yesterday; isn't that correct?

# 3 MR. RUBIN:

Briefly.

# 4 MR. COCHRAN:

As a trained lawyer, you talked to him before he put you up there, you met him in court here; did you not?

# 5 MR. RUBIN:

Yes, I did.

# 6 MR. COCHRAN:

In fact, you were sitting out in the hallway talking to David wooden while the lady was on the stand, Miss Vemich, isn't that correct, when you were brought in here?

# 7 MR. RUBIN:

That's correct.

# 8 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Now, just a couple questions. With regard to those particular gloves there, you shared with us how one appropriately takes gloves off; is that correct?

# 9 MR. RUBIN:

Yes, I have.

# 10 MR. COCHRAN:

And you shared with us I believe yesterday that those gloves are designed to fit rather snuggly; is that correct?

# 11 MR. RUBIN:

That's correct.

# 12 MR. COCHRAN:

And when they fit snuggly, they don't just fall off, do they?

KEY QUOTE

# 13 MR. RUBIN:

No, they do not.

# 14 MR. COCHRAN:

They have to be kind of taken off, don't they?

# 15 MR. RUBIN:

Yes, they would.

# 16 MR. COCHRAN:

And you have to use some effort and some energy to take them off, don't you?

KEY QUOTE

# 17 MR. RUBIN:

Yes.

# 18 MR. COCHRAN:

Thank you, Mr. Rubin.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (3)

Johnnie Cochran

And when they fit snuggly, they don't just fall off, do they?

Cochran uses the prosecution's own expert to reinforce the defense narrative that OJ's struggle removing the gloves at trial was genuine, not theater.

Richard Rubin

Yes, you would.

The prosecution's glove expert concedes that removing the gloves requires effort — directly supporting the defense's argument about the glove demonstration.

Johnnie Cochran

And you have to use some effort and some energy to take them off, don't you?

The capstone of Cochran's brief recross — extracting a clean, usable concession from a hostile witness in three questions.

Evidence (1)

Informal

The Aris Leather gloves (the murder weapon gloves)

discussed — specifically how they are worn and removed

Notable Exchanges (2)

Johnnie Cochran•Richard Rubin

Cochran extracts a three-step concession: gloves fit snugly, don't fall off on their own, and require deliberate effort to remove — all from the prosecution's own expert witness.

strategic

Johnnie Cochran•Richard Rubin

Cochran notes Rubin was seen in the hallway talking to David Wooden (prosecution team) while the previous witness, Miss Vemich, was on the stand — subtly flagging witness coordination.

pointed

Credibility Attacks (1)

⚔ Richard Rubin

bias / witness coordination

Cochran establishes that Rubin spoke with Darden before testifying and was seen conferring with David Wooden (prosecution staff) in the hallway while the prior witness testified, implying he was coached or coordinated with the prosecution.

Objections

None recorded

Proceeding 6423 • 18 utterances • Prosecution witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103