Christopher Darden talks about O.J. trial on Charlie Rose (2 of 4)
Christopher Darden is a writer, lecturer, and heads the criminal defense department for The
Foxx Firm in
Culver City. He is a 15-year veteran of the
Los Angeles County District Attorney, where he was assigned to the prosecution of
O.J. Simpson. During his tenure as a prosecutor, he was the
Assistant Head Deputy Attorney of the
Special Investigations Division. There for 6 years, his division investigated corrupt public officials, election law violations andpolice officer shootings and allegations of excessive use of force by police.
Past assignments also included the
Hardcore Gang Division and the
Major Crimes Division. He has tried 21homicide cases. Darden received his
B.S. in
Criminal Justice Administration from
California University at
San Jose (
1977)and his law degree from the
University of California, Hasting
College of the Law (
1980). After leaving theLos
Angeles County District Attorney's
Office in
1995, Darden joined the faculty at
California StateUniversity,
Los Angeles, where he taught criminal law.That same year, he was appointed
Associate Professor of Law at
Southwestern University School of Law,
Los Angeles. Darden taught and specialized in criminal procedure and trial advocacy. He left the lawschool in
1999 and immediately started his own firm, Darden &
Associates,
Inc., specializing in criminaldefense and civil litigation. Darden continues to be an advocate against domestic violence and is active in a variety of local andnational organizations, including the
National Bar Association (
Lifetime Member),
American TrialLawyers
Association and
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity (Lifetime Member). In
1998, Darden received the
Crystal Heart Award from
Loved Ones of
Homicide Victims, an organization devoted to aiding families that have suffered the loss of loved ones as a result of violence. In
2000 he wasrecognized as "
Humanitarian of the Year" by Eli
Horne, A California shelter for abused children andwomen. Darden has lectured at
America's leading colleges and universities, including but not limited to, IndianaUniversity,
University of Pittsburgh,
Yale, University of
Miami,
Mercer University,
Pennsylvania, CaseWestern and
Georgia State University. He has also spoken on a variety of legal and social issues at major fundraisers, state and regional barassociation convention, and corporate gatherings. Darden is a former legal commentator for
NBC and
CNBC, and a frequent guest and commentator onCNN,
Fox News Network and
Court TV. He has appeared on every major television news or talk show.He has made guest appearances on "
Touched By an Angel," "
Girlfriends," "
The Tonight Show With JayLeno," "
Roseanne" and the movie "
Liar Liar." He is the former principal attorney in the syndicated legalshow "
Power of Attorney." Darden is also an accomplished writer. He is the co-author of the former number one
New York Times bestseller, "In
Contempt" (
1996) and "
The Trials of Nikki Hill" (1999) and "LA
Justice" (2000). In September2002,
PAL will publish "
The Last Defense," a new crime thriller written by Darden with
Dick Lochte.
Currently, Darden lives in Los Angeles with his wife,
Marcia (Mar-cee-uh) and his three children, Jenee,
Christopher, Jr., and
Tiffany.