What’s Next For O.J. Simpson?

ABC News
Published: October 6, 2008

Los Angeles, CA—In handcuffs, O.J. Simpson looked resigned to his fate, spending at least the next two months in jail until his sentencing. His lawyer plans to appeal, questioning the fairness of his client’s conviction...by an all white jury.

Yale Galanter, Simpson’s Attorney: “I don’t think he absolutely had a jury of his peers. There were no minorities on the jury, no African-Americans on the jury.”

Some legal analysts say this could be seen as payback for Simpson’s not guilty verdict in the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.

Dana Cole, legal analyst: “The hidden agenda issue is going to loom large for O.J. Simpson, on appeal.”

The conviction brought little comfort to the family of Nicole Brown Simpson. In a statement, they wanted to “thank everyone across the country for their thoughts and prayers, as we work through many mixed emotions.”

Laura Marquez, reporting: “Simpson’s troubles began with the double murder in this Los Angeles neighborhood....14 years later, his acquittal could not be forgotten. Almost everyone has an opinion that can’t be erased.”

Neighbor: “I think he’s stupid, for one, that he should have stayed out of trouble.”

Neighbor: “I’d like to think the current jury listened to the facts in this case, and that its decision had nothing to do with the previous case.”

Neighbor: “I said, a long time ago, if he wasn’t careful they’d get him for something.”

Yale Galanter: “I think that was our biggest challenge in this case, was to find 12 people who could hold their opinions aside, and judge him for what just happened, here in Vegas. In order to do that, we needed to be able to question the jurors. We were prohibited from doing that.”

The former football star will remain behind bars in a city where luck rules the day. Simpson’s may have run out…

The attorney for the family of Ron Goldman says he thinks the $33.5 million wrongful death judgment led Simpson to try to recover personal items he had lost. Simpson’s conviction could send him to prison for the rest of his life.