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Published Monday, Aug. 3, 2009 | 7:54 a.m.
Updated Monday, Aug. 3, 2009 | 11:48 a.m.
This is O.J. Simpson's booking photo in Nevada's High Desert State Prison.
Sun coverage
O.J. Simpson’s time behind bars may soon be behind him if his lawyers get their way.
The disgraced football hero is in lockup in Lovelock but his attorneys are in Las Vegas this morning to ask the court to let him go.
Simpson lawyers Malcolm LaVergne and Yale Galanter today asked a three-justice panel to let their client out on bail while they work on his appeal.
Simpson, 62, was sentenced in December to 33 years after a jury found him guilty of all 12 charges he faced following a run-in with two memorabilia dealers in a Palace Station hotel room in 2007.
The former All-Star running back was convicted in October of robbery, kidnapping and weapons charges and is not eligible for parole for nine years. If the appeal is unsuccessful, he could spend the rest of his natural life behind bars.
The former football star’s lawyers presented this morning’s arguments at the Clark Country Regional Justice Center to Justices Michael Cherry, Nancy Saitta and Mark Gibbons.
Meanwhile, District Attorney David Roger is arguing to keep Simpson behind bars.
The ruling will have no effect on his appeal, which is currently underway and has yet to be decided.
“Whether bail should be granted (is) the absolute only issue the court is going to deal with at this hearing,” LaVergne said.
The hearing was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. but it is not known when the justices will return with their decision.
LaVergne said this morning’s three-justice panel will consider a variety of factors, including the merits of District Court Judge Jackie Glass’ conviction, Simpson’s flight risk and the disgraced NFL star’s risk to public safety.
If bail is granted, the justices will issue a list of conditions that Simpson and his lawyers will have to satisfy before the Heisman Trophy winner will be released. As such, Simpson likely would remain in prison for several days even if the justices ultimately rule in his favor.
Two possible conditions include not leaving the state of Nevada and maintaining regular check-ins with a court’s representative, LaVergne said.
While both the prosecution and the defense are being given 30 minutes to present their oral arguments.
“This hearing is such a rare type (of) hearing,” the Las Vegas-based LaVergne said.
He said he spoke with his client a few weeks ago, just after the former football star celebrated his 62nd birthday behind bars.
LaVergne said Simpson is doing well, all things considered.
“He’s in good spirits,” he said. “He’s waiting to see what happens at this hearing.”
Simpson’s appeal is not expected to be decided for several months.
“We may be actually hearing the appeal by the end of the year,” he said. “I hope so, the sooner the better.”
He and Galanter are asking the Supreme Court to allow them to present oral arguments regarding Simpson’s appeal.
If the court agrees to hear oral arguments, the case would be argued in Carson City, not Las Vegas, where Simpson was convicted last year.
Simpson’s legal team expects the case to go before all seven of the state’s Supreme Court justices.
“Generally, these type of cases are decided by a three-justice panel but this is not a typical case,” LaVergne said.
Melissa Arseniuk writes about Las Vegas entertainment and celebrity events. She can be reached at 702-948-7823 or by e-mail at melissa.arseniuk@lasvegassun.com.
"Two possible conditions include not leaving the state of Nevada and maintaining regular check-ins with a court's representative, LaVergne said."
Really??? Can't we require that he leave and go back to Florida so that he can resume the search for the killer(s) of Nicole and Ronald? How has he not been shived in prison yet - has he been in lockdown the entire time?
What a waste of carbon.
I am not a fan of OJ, but this was nothing less than "double jepordy". Jackie Glass is a worthless judge that should be removed from the bench and all her previous cases reviewed for errors.
Per Thumper, Judge Glass sounds as if she has some proportionality issues with letting others off for their actions. That may well be true - I don't know that much about her. Even if true, it doesn't mean that OJ should be treated less harshly than a convicted armed robber in Nevada.
Let this guy rot behind bars.
You're kidding yourself if you think he was treated as anyone else would have been.
Logic - you are so right. He was treated better than others from the time he, err, someone or some people, brutally murdered Nicole and Ronald, until the time he stupidly committed an armed robbery. What California justice couldn't achieve, the good folks of Nevada did (and thank goodness for that).
I think there are bigger injustices in this world than a double murderer serving jail time for an armed robbery.
Leave him there.
Is he getting treatment for his arthritis in prison?
Keep up the good work !!!
Let's play a name substitution game.
Joe Montana for O.J. Simpson.
What happens in this case?
I rest mine.
Peter Gun should look in the mirror and pull the log out of his eye. Then maybe he could see clearly. When people use that kind of language - they feel badly about themselves.
Judge Glass deserves to find a real job. She too needs to look into a mirror - she kept saying that the jury shouldn't be influenced by the events of years ago when a jury did not convict OJ and then threw the book at him. The matter had been resolved among the scum bags involved in the deal and there was no need to waste the time and money of the people of Nevada. The people who are being punished here are the poor of Nevada when rulings are made that are extremely far off the grid - release OJ and let him spend his money in Vagas! By the way - I saw OJ run down the field in Buffalony - he was great - don't forget he is in the football hall of fame and thrilled many in his time! One more thing - we should reassure the DA that his feelings of inadequacy aren't going to be changed by beating up on people like OJ.
Do they have extradition in the Cayman Islands? Here in Nevada, how long does it take to get to a private jet when you're released on bail?
Ans: Slightly less then the speed of light.
This man has snubbed his nose at law enforcment so many times i think he truely beleives he is above the law!The case in cali was a fumbled case,and he beat the charge.Gets caught here,and pays the price.O.J. you were caught,tried,and then convicted! JUST DO THE DAMN TIME!!!
Oh ya,where are OL AL,and JESSIE NOW?Im surprised race hasnt come out yet!
I think he should stay in prison forever. Not because he killed anybody but have you seen any of the movies this guy was in ??........pleeze!!
I agree - God bless Jackie Glass - NOW - get her off the bench - maybe a rented jet to Cayman would be good - maybe OJ would pay for it! As for OJ's movies - hey - I would be embarrassed to acknowledge having seen them and so should getalife!
HOLD UP!
I can't stand OJ, but the Nake Gun movies were HILARIOUS! Almost on a par with Blazing Saddles or Airplane.
Most of the comments here about Mr. Simpson are colored with bias due to the murder trial. Well guess what people...He was found "not guilty". And all of you know the only reason he was convicted in the robbery trial is because of that. When a "real judge" and a "real jury" gets the case on appeal most if not all of the verdicts will be overturned. Some people can't see past their own hate. This wasn't justice, this was some perverted payback plain and simple. It makes our justice system look like some third world court where public opinion subverts the rule of law.
LV4LIFE,
You're absolutely right, I am full of hate. I absolutely HATE murderers!
He might have been acquitted of double murder, but a jury unanimously found him liable for wrongful death - to the tune of 33 million $$$.
The robbery wouldn't have happened if Simpson wasn't trying to be so sneaky and hide memorabilia from the Goldmans.
He also tried to profit off of the murders of Ron & Nicole by writing a book called "If I Did It (here's how).
Again, there are bigger injustices in this world than a double murderer serving time for armed robbery.
Just who is bank rolling this loser?
Hey, OJ has lots of income from an NFL pension and from residuals which I think were ruled outside of the Goldman's reach. I think they should take a jet plane and lounge with Judge Glass and hire a therapist who helps them all to become human again. It will be good when we don't have to hear about this crap and when the prison population is reduced and the poor are served.
Henderson,
Hate all you want, but justice wasn't served here. It has been perverted and and highlights the glaring inconsistancies and lack of qualified judges in our system.
LV4LIFE,
Justice wasn't served in the first trial either. Life isn't fair.
OJ is serving the jail time he deserves. He's a street thug who got away with murder. Got busted for armed robbery. Too Bad!
Being a football player shouldn't give jerks like Simpson or Vick a pass for their crimes.
Do the crime.......Do the time! (That was in the theme song for Baretta......Another guy who got away with murder because of his celebrity status).
I have a friend imprisoned in the same jail as OJ, the statement in the above article saying "LaVergne said Simpson is doing well, all things considered" is a COMPLETE lie....I assume that Mr. LaVergne wasn't aware of the broken eye socket OJ received 3 weeks ago from a Hell's Angels member. Absolutely hilarious. This guy is exactly where he should be. Locked away. He got off the first time, and the jurors weren't going to let it happen again.
Jackie Glass: Will you marry me??!!!
Henderson,
But I think it will be on appeal. I only hope your hatred dosent eat you up inside when he goes free with time served. Hatred for people you dont even know or will ever know serves what purpose for you? You would be better off taking that hatred and focusing into some constructive.
LV4LIFE,
I sleep very well at night. I hope your dreams aren't haunted by images of Ron Goldman and Nicole Simpson's butchered bodies laying where OJ's kids could find them when they woke up!
Actually, I take that back, I hope you are haunted by those images.
What has he spent 6 months behind bars? If the judge releases him now it will be because money is changing hands! Justice be damned!
First, THUMPER,
LOVE the post.
I couldn't have wrote it better myself!
Next, why is everyone hatin' on EACHOTHER cause of this? Blows me away on some of these things. Be hatin [[or not hatin]] on the ISSUE. Why be so mean? Shows the ignorance of this country and why all these awful things are happening.
As for OJ. Wow. I remember 9th grade. I won a bet that year he was innocent. So did he really do it? I guess we will never TRULY know. It's one of those "conspiracy things" like we never "ACTUALY" landed on the moon right?? LOL. But hey. As for what he DID get convicted of? 33 YEARS or in his case, the rest of his LIFE, behind bars? Hmmmm. Well. Take into consideration the courts have a "points" system when convicting. Once FOUND guilty there is a mandatory minimum. Does his sentence fall into that category? Could he have LOTS more past charges from PRE-famous days? Juvenile? I know the murder DID have an impact on the opinion, cause now, when you think of OJ you think, Nichole & Ron. NOT legend, hall-of-famer-heisman-trophy-winner do you?
So if he get out, he gets out. He WILL have time to serve. WAS his sentence steep? YES. DOES he deserve TIME? YES. But I don't think dying in Las Vegas PRISON is so fair. Now, Keeping in mind I followed the 1st OJ trial VERY closely. Though I don't know hardly any "details" in THIS case, I think that they should re-evaluate his time. Or at least let him out till the appeal so he can tie up all his ends, say good-byes, and off he goes. Then, after about 10-12 years he'll be too OLD to prove any harm to anyone or anything but a nursing home bed-pan, GRANT HIS PAROLE...
So really. There's no "right or wrong" opinon. It's that. An OPINION. Why hate on someones OPINION. Just a thought.....
OH put this thing to bed.....who cares.
There are many people who care, not because of OJ, or what he did or didn't do, but because this case is a glaring example of how horribly broken the justice system is.
It sells papers....nothing more
Oh Henderson, I didn't know those people and I was so over the whole thing back in 96! You have no idea what they were into and what part they played leading to their own deaths. My guess is since Goldman was supposedly a known drug dealer and Ms. Simpson allowed him to be around her children does not make them so innocent.
LOL at LV4LIFE!
Shaking my head and lol right back at henderson.