ABOUT THIS BLOG

The Daily Nightly began on May 31, 2005. As Brian wrote in his first post it aims to provide a narrative of the broadcast day and a window into the editorial process at NBC Nightly News. Brian weighs in every weekday and NBC News correspondents and producers post regularly.

Brian Williams became the seventh anchor and managing editor in the history of NBC Nightly News on December 2, 2004. Read his full biography.



From inside O.J.'s Las Vegas courtroom

Posted: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 11:46 AM by Daily Nightly Editor

by George Lewis, NBC correspondent

I'm sending this blog from my BlackBerry inside the Las Vegas court where O.J. Simpson is being arraigned on ten felony counts.  Those charges include kidnapping with  the use of a deadly weapon, something that could carry a sentence of 15 years to life.

Here in the press section, I see many familiar faces from the first two O.J. trials in Los Angeles. Marcia Clark, one of the prosecutors in Simpson's murder trial, is sitting two rows in front of me. She's now a commentator for Court TV.

Also in the courtroom, Simpson's daughter Arnelle and his sister, Shirley.

Simpson's defense team, Miami-based lawyer Yale Galanter and his co-counsel, Gabriel Grasso, based here in Las Vegas, shake hands with District Attorney David Roger and head for a private conference in the chambers of the judge. There's a last minute switch of judges.  Joe Bonaventure, a veteran of many high profile cases, is substituted for Judge Ann Zimmerman.

 A court spokesman, who earlier told us things would start on time, counsels patience.

25 minutes after the scheduled start time for the arraignment, O.J. Simpson is brought into the courtroom, in shackles and standard dark blue prison garb.

Simpson is ordered to post $125,000 bail and surrender his passport so he can't travel outside the United States.

It's all over in a few minutes.

O.J.'s lawyer has said his client will be on a plane to his home in Miami before the end of the day.  He'll return to court October 22.

MAIN PAGE

Email this EMAIL THIS

Comments

The guy is a maniac ! Please put him away. Who really cares about him anyway????
Who was the geek behind the attorneys at the press conference? That guy is priceless! Should he be on meds? Should he even be in public? I didnt plan to watch the whole press conference, but that was worth every second of it! Shouldn't the attorneys have a crazy-people detector for their own safety?
.. and so the the great OJ, has been caught with his hand in the till. One wonders if Justice will trully be served this time?
Why did they change from a female judge to a male judge?  Simply because the male judge has dealt with other high profile cases is not reason enough.   Did the defense attorneys request this change?   Afraid of a "woman" judge?????
Ill concived robbery in Vegas $50

Posting Bail $125,000

Knowing Marcia Clark was in the courtroom today when they brought OJ in...PRICELESS
I think the judge should tell the auctioner to give Mr.simpson his belonging and let everyone find something else to do,and what does this got to do with his old court case
What comes around goes around. Karma is finally catching up with this pompous, violent, incorrigible man.
Ill conceived robbery   $0

Posting bail  $125,000

Knowing Marcia Clark was in the Courtroom today when they brought OJ in...PRICELESS!
What a press conference!! It really turned into a freak fest. What's up with the famous people lover blowing bubbles and attempting to answer press questions? I hope this isn't a member of OJ's counsel...Perhaps the judge should be Judge Judy...the characters involved will definitly fit into her courtroom
RUN JUICE RUN!
Again, the press is at fault here.  Why keep on giving headlines to this "empty can of OJ?"  Throw it out with the rest of the garbage.  
Put the guy away. He got away with breaking the law before...I agree with the Civil Court, not the circus court.

Also, I dont really agree that OJ is big news...certainly not offering him the publicity he is seeking for his new book. There are much more important issues in this country than OJ (or B Simpson). Come on, rise above the media dribble.
I think everyone basically wants O.J. in jail because of the murder trial years ago.  It's not his fault that he was aquitted, it was the prosecutors so lets all move on! He just wanted his belongings back...just went about it in the wrong fashion.  
O.J. IS A JOKE.  HE WILL GET OUT OF THIS JUST LIKE HE DID 12 YEARS AGO.  OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM IS ALSO A JOKE.  
Not defending what O.J. did as it could've been handled differently, but what is this other person doing trying to auction off stolen goods that O.J. states were stolen from him? Last I knew it was illegal to be in possession of stolen goods. Bascially the majority of this country was waiting for the day that O.J. would screw up. I surmise that he will be convicted and awhole lot of people will be happy.  But when all is said and done, Jesus is the only one who can pass true judgement upon him.
Old saying, "What goes around comes around". I don't usually hate people but I can say I hate OJ. Time is not on his side and now he must spend the rest of his days where he should have been in the first place paying for what he did.
The prior case has nothing to do with this case. I believe all the "hype" is going to be just that "hype". It looks good now, but as the case goes on, all the character's will be the downfall of this one. Don't get your hopes up to high that OJ will be convicted.    
I think you were mistaken about the "High Profile Judge". Justice of the Peace Joe Bonaventure is the son of now retired District Court Judge Joseph Bonaventure.  The elder Bonaventure is the one who handled the various high profile cases.
Will SOMEONE please answer this question?  That IDIOT standing right behind OJ's lawyers outside the courthouse during a press conference wearing a cap stating "I (heart)love famous prople", a white article of clothing with "OJ 07" missing a few front teeth and seemingly wanting to take over OJ's lawyer's comments appeared to be either on meds or off meds.....either way, it wasn't working!  WHO IS THIS GUY?  Someone has gotta answer this question!
(Please note the sarcasm in my "voice".
Now really, he "must" be innocent of these charges.  Everyone knows his method is knives, not guns. Hasn't this poor man suffered enough?????
I'm a little mystified about the kidnapping charge. Did the prosecution blow it by including this charge?
Note to Lynda - It's not OJ that is seeking publicity for the new book. It's Fred Goldman.

http://mrontemp.blogspot.com/2007/09/vengeance.html
I hope "OJ-07 I Love Famous People" is part of OJ's  DREAM TEAM. Maybe this time "The Juice" will get his hand slapped.
Where did he get the money from? Thought he be broke.
Will OJ now skip the country and go where he can't be touched???
If da glove don't fit!
You got to acquit!

Coming soon... OJ walks free again!
God loves OJ and He does not make mistakes! If OJ Simpson killed his ex-wife and her boyfriend then his conscious and God will reveal that in due time. My concern is the on-lookers that is willing to committ the act of sin by being a "False Witness Against Thy Neighbor"  I don't know if OJ Simpson is guilty or innocent so the truth in my has me to stand neutral because I never want to accuse someone of something that I did not see for myself. OJ could really be innocent. It has been so many people wrongly convicted of crimes in this country and all those people have recieved sometimes after spending YEARS in prison is an apology. If OJ is innocent America has done a great job of making his life HELL anyway. He would have been better off in prison the way this man has been treated. America is really going to pay for the continous evil vigilanty spirit. Our troops are over in another country right now killing and dying because this countries Gang - Banging mentallity. God knows better than you and me but I forgot this country is god. I count the days for our real Creator our real God put an end to all these fake little evil gods that we have running around in this country Killing, Stealing, and Destroying the true essence of what my ancestors and your ancestors have worked so hard to overcome and build. I pray that the real people stick together as ONE nation under GOD our Creator and pray for the end of Racism, Hate Crimes that lead to Murder, Becomming a False Witness, Gossip and just every other sin that this country has adopted as its new and improved way of living. Come on people let's get it together because judgement day is comming don't be caught with innocent blood on your hands.
None of the facts have been presented by either the police or prosecutors, so all most of us know is what the notoriously unreliable Nancy Grace, manages to venomously toss around.

Until there are official announcements about what actually happened, and who did what, there's not much reason to believe OJ is in as much trouble as some of us might hope.

I for one would like to see OJ locked away forever, but only if the prosecutor can prove his or her case against. It would be wrong to prosecute OJ on inflated charges to get back at him for beating legit murder charges.
Not defending what O.J. did as it could've been handled differently, but what is this other person doing trying to auction off stolen goods that O.J. states were stolen from him? Last I knew it was illegal to be in possession of stolen goods. Bascially the majority of this country was waiting for the day that O.J. would screw up. I surmise that he will be convicted and awhole lot of people will be happy.  But when all is said and done, Jesus is the only one who can pass true judgement upon him.
I believe the it's innocent before guilty; but as always the press blows it up, and does not allow the justice system to wiegh the case. The press is always informing the public every change they get just for a story. They do not even care what they are doing to people who have the right to a fair trail.

It's not enough that racism plague our nation where black, I say, Americans are concerned.I do not want to make this a race case, it already is.

O.J Simpson was found innocent, not guilty.
He will be paying for his innocent verdict for the rest of his natual life.

Think of all the Black men and Women have been murder in the name of hate, for the color of our skin, and have got away with it knowingly; it was sweep up under the rug.

I am not saying it is right to get away with murder; but this man was found innocent,and no one know for real whether he did it or not and got away with; or if he is totally innocent of all the charges brought ganist him.

I am tire of the wieght of slavery laying upon my shouders; simply because the profitings that our bodies brought this great nation is over. I deal with it every day from white Americans who do not know me, but turns their noses up at me for no reason but of embeded racism.

if it was a white man, I do not believe once he was found innocent he name would be allowed to be slander all over the place
A judicial system  which convicts the innocent sometimes will also fail to convict the guilty. Then there are the others who never go to trial. How about a guy who orders the dropping of bombs on innocent people. Do you remember the invasion of Panama, to get Noreiga
Why waste the time and money of the people of Nevada when we all know that OJ will get off again.
Do you really think that he will serve any kind of real time behind bars ?
When is the public going to learn who the stuff belongs to? Seems clearly this is the reason he was in the hotel. To get his stuff..  shouldn't the Prosecutor first focus on this issue rather than stating their position?(to rush to judgement) Assuming the stuff does belong to him, will the other guys be charged, or are they going to make deals to testified against OJ to save their own skin for stealing his stuff - Just so that the prosecutors can have their revenge for the case they lost against him 13 years ago...  that is what it seems like from my angle.  I have heard on the tapes where one guy  said it was MIke who took OJ's stuff..  Isn't this an admission that the stuff was taken without OJ's consent. Also,How many people  go to rob a place or someone and take a tape recorder with them?

If the items does belong to OJ. it is still robbery.
where does the Kidnapping  comes in all this..  the man took is stuff and left..is that wrong. why didn't they just give him his stuff so he can go on  his way. If you visit your neighbours house and see property belonging  to you there and they tried to leave with it.. will you not stop them from doing so? its natural reaction.

seems to me - in the US .. if someone breaks into your house you have the right to shoot him (its  called defending your property). So what if they took your stuff and you decided to go get it yourself before they pawn it off. Do you think that you should be charged for stealing your own stuff?

13 years ago the evidence wasn't there to find him guilty for murder so why is the Goldmans on a personal vendada to slander OJ. Seems to me Gloldsman's father is feeling guilty for his dislike of his Gay son..  so this is his way to hide is own guilt.  I don't see the public being outrage against Robert Blake. A case that seems to weigh quite strong against Robert Blake.

why isn't the media using some of there time to educate the public that the Civil  trial OJ had doesn't mean he is guilty of Murder. instead.. the media and the Goldmans are stiring up hate for this man and slandering his name that  he murdered two people.
why isn't there any outcry against Blake from the pulic and especailly the Media.. .....do you still feel after  lookin at Blakes evidence that Blake is innocent?


And then there is the detention witout bail.  give your head a shake. ..  the folks who carried weapons and also lives in a different state gets bail with $0.00  abd OJ get to stay. This certainly paints a picture of the unfair system we live in. A system driven my the media and negative publicity  and not a system that seeks to find the truth

Personally he's long overdue, and hopefully justice
will be served. He's probably thinking that he is
invincible, and above the law. Not this time OJ!!!
Quick change of robes and insto presto, another 'in your face' money trumps justice American style. I ask anyone, would someone of color and/or limited means ever, anywhere on this planet, walk out the door, for pocket change, facing life in prison?  
Are we, as a nation, as individuals, as human beings that sick? We dont need an asprin  we need constitutional emergency intensive care. Is there a doctor in the house?
I think the goldman's need to take a hike, keeping hatred in their hearts against OJ is'nt doing them any good.  I cannot recall seeing anyone so hateful, they need to get a life.  The entire truth will prevail in the, and OJ will walk free.  I think it was a set up, some friends cannot be trusted, there was no reason for any taping. God is in looking down, he is in charge and all will be well with OJ.  The haters of OJ need to focus their energy on positive things that will be more beneficial to their wellbeing.
Carmen you are confused. He was aquitted in the criminal trial but was found responsible in the civil trial which is where the judgment came in. I'm also sick of hearing about all of the unjust treatment of blacks in this country. Thanks but I don't feel obligated to pay for what you or anyone else thinks were done to your ansestors. Any race can claim that in some way they have been discriminated against, after all there are Black colleges that my children cannot attend. Talk about White people with their nose stuck in the air,just look at O.J. now he has thumbed his nose at everyone and NO he was not found innocent He refuses to abide by the system that found him guilty in a civil trial. You tell me who has their nose up in the air?????????
I'm so sick of O.J. Doesn't the world have better things to take of,like getting our boys back from the war.Why does the media have to make it such a big issue,if the evidence is there let the judicial sytem take care of him. Leave the rest of us alone!
I have always wondered would people be so passionate if OJ had [allegedly] murdered his first wife???

The press seems to enjoy any OJ story.  Then you have all the racist comments that only tend to divide rather than  unite.  With what's going on around the world [global warming, Iraq, terriorism, foreclosures, people dying daily due to hunger, poverty here in the USA, a failing education system...] why would OJ be plastered on every news station?  It seems rather mundane to focus on OJ  -- one man who allegedly murdered his ex-wife and her boyfriend.  It was front page news when he went to the Kentucky Derby and was denied service in a restaurant.  Not to minimize what he [allegedly] did, but there have been several famous men [such as Robert Blake and maybe the record executive, Phil Spector] who were never prosecuted for allegedly killing their spouses.  Rhetorical Question:  Why would America focus on OJ, could it be...  
As I sit here and read all of these comments, 99% are full of HATE. Assumptions are being made because of a trial that occurred many years ago in which O.J. was found NOT GUILTY.  Jurors are every day people like you and I, that is our part of serving our country, in which our voices really matter. And it was the voice of those 12 jurors that DID NOT CONVICT HIM. How can you HATE someone without knowing them? Did the deaths that occurred many years ago affect your life and your family? Did Jesus say "those without sin cast the first stone?" There are only a handful of blogs on this page that are not casting that first stone. I understand the need for freedom of speach and freedom of the press, but our media is so quick to persecute and turn everything into a circus, when it's really not necessary.  I can remember a time when our world was so much simpler before this modern age of technology. No one has a right to privacy, no one is innocent before proven guilty. Nowadays, it's guilty until you're proven innocent! Beware of the judgement day you will have in front of God. Where most of you are saying O.J. should end up, be careful you may end up being his company!
you people need to wake up and smell the coffee.  if you think for a minute that that little piece of silicon sitting in your living is ever going to show you something of true social redeeming value your head is buried deeper than i thought.  your culture of make believe demands a daily dose of entertainment that involves no small amount blood, guts, violence,  dishonesty, sensationalism, T & A, and all sorts of low life officials with no morals, loose zippers, and total absence of conscience.  you are getting what you want, stop the whining.  the news media figured you out years ago.  it can be changed of course, but i am not holding my breath.
like the 'Cirque du O.J.' tees
http://www.moewampum.com
The guy an earlier person posted about without teeth is a guy who works for jimmy kimmel.Elrushbo said it this morning on his show.He has been seen doing ths before.I think they should send oj to iraq to be judged""Hang him i say""'lets all hope they send him to where he belongs-in the slammer""
I am so tired of everyone holding everything O.J.Simpson do against that murder case. The man was found innocent in a court of law, so why don't we let him live his live. If everyone would put theirselves in his place we might think different. That case shouldn't even been brought up with this case two totally different things.
I agree with Defavoo, God knows whether or not OJ is guilty or innocent.  We all have commited a crime in some form or fashion, the evil we harbor in our hearts and minds on a daily basis.  Coveting our neighbors and falsely accusing them daily.  We may not have physically murdered someone, but we murder our sister and brother daily with our mouths and whats in our hearts.  Let God be the Judged, leave the man alone.  If OJ is guilty of murder or this new offenses that are against him, God will decide.  Maybe in this life or the life to come.  Stop crucifying the man and let him be.  I think he has suffered enough from the mockery of the world, and if he did murder his wife and her friend, I'm sure God is convicting his heart and he's suffering in some form or fashion without the hypocrosy of the world.  Just pray for God's grace and mercy to be upon him, because we all are going to need the grace and mercy of the Lord.
OJ WAS found guilty in a civil court.  He was not found innocent.

If those men had in their possession something of his, then take care of it LEGALLY, not impersonating police officers.  For whatever reason, if he did these things, he should be treated like everyone else would.  

I think it's opposite what some people are thinking when they say he is being treated unfairly because of his previous history.  I think he KNOWS he will be treated special just for that reason.  

   
Could it be that O.J. actually WANTS to pay for what he did to Nicole and Ron? Think about it. The man is a sociopath according to MANY in the medical profession.I Believe he is exactly where he wants to be at this very moment. Not necessary in chains but, OUT THERE.
Las Vegas is going to be alot harder on OJ then California could ever have been. These charges will stick and there is no way .. not ever.. that OJ will ever let this go to trial "if he's smart". There will never be an impartial jury in this country that he could even try to find. He'll be convicted and hope to God he serves times. Vegas jails/prisons will not take to OJ well. He should be worried now! Very worried! He's a horrible human being.. most believe this is justice coming around finally for the past. Hey.. I don't care when he does time.. just that he DOES time.
what a piece of work this guy is--the only thing worse than OJ is the morons holding "Free OJ" signs outside the courtroom--to the juice--you are only as good as the company you keep my friend...
O.J.is being charged with kidnapping, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and numerous other charges that have nothing to do with his prior run in with the law. The Browns and the Goldman's are just watchers by as we all are.  So let the games begin. This is one I am going to enjoy.  


SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

RECENT STORIES FROM NIGHTLY NEWS

  • Nightly News section front

CONNECT WITH US

About the broadcast | Biographies

RSS is an easy way to get the news you want as it is updated even if you are not on MSNBC.com. More information about MSNBC.com's RSS feeds.

Subscribe to feed

Podcasting brings you audio and video from each weekday broadcast on your iPod or other portable MP3 player anytime, anywhere. More information about MSNBC.com's podcasts.

Subscribe to podcast

Sign-up for our daily e-mail newsletter. It offers a preview of the stories and special reports featured on each weekday broadcast.


Syndicate This Site

Add The Daily Nightly to your news reader:
live.com xml
myyahoo msn
bloglines newsgator
google