Christopher Darden, Known for O.J. Simpson Prosecution, Enters Race for Los Angeles County Superior Court

Christopher Darden, the attorney, best-selling author, and law professor known for his role as a prosecutor in the historic O.J. Simpson case in 1994 and 1995, announced his candidacy for the position of Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge. 

The Simpson case remains one of the most closely watched trials in history. In addition to his legal career, Darden has also served as a legal commentator, community leader, and law professor.

Before his involvement in the O.J. Simpson trial, Christopher Darden had established himself as a seasoned Deputy District Attorney with 15 years of trial experience in the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. 

Darden was born in Richmond, Calif., the fourth of eight siblings. After graduating from John F. Kennedy High School in 1974, he enrolled at San Jose State University, where he participated in track and field and joined Alpha Phi Alpha, an African-American fraternity. He received his BS in criminal justice administration in 1977 and his Juris Doctor from the University of California, Hastings, in 1980.

During his tenure as a Deputy District Attorney, Darden worked in the Hardcore Gang Unit and later in the Special Investigation Division, where he focused on investigating criminal activities and corruption involving public officials, including law enforcement personnel.

For the past 27 years, Darden has been engaged in private practice as a criminal defense attorney. Concurrently, he has been actively involved in academia for over a decade.

He is also a writer. In addition to “In Contempt,” which chronicles his experiences with the Simpson trial, he co-authored, with Dick Lochte, a number of crime novels, including “The Trials of Nikki Hill” in 1999, “LA Justice” in 2000, and “The Last Defense” in 2002.