Christopher Darden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Christopher Darden
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Darden at Washington D.C., 1995
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| Born |
Christopher Allen Darden
April 7, 1956 Richmond, California, U.S.
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| Education | San Jose State University (BS) University of California, Hastings (JD) |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1980–present |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) |
Marcia Carter
(m. 1997) |
| Children | 5 |
Christopher Allen Darden (born April 7, 1956) is an American lawyer, author, and TV personality. He worked for 15 years as a prosecutor in the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office. He became widely known for his role as a co-prosecutor in the famous murder trial of O. J. Simpson.
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Early Life and Education
Christopher Darden was born in Richmond, California, on April 7, 1956. He was the fourth of eight children in his family. After finishing John F. Kennedy High School in 1974, Darden went to San Jose State University. There, he was part of the track and field team. He also joined Alpha Phi Alpha, a fraternity for African-American men.
In 1977, he earned his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in criminal justice administration. This degree focuses on how the justice system works. Darden then continued his studies at the University of California, Hastings. In 1980, he received his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. This is the degree needed to become a lawyer.
Career as a Lawyer
After law school, Christopher Darden took the California Bar Exam in the summer of 1980. This exam is a test that lawyers must pass to practice law in California. He passed the exam and began his legal career.
Working for the District Attorney
A few months later, Darden started working for the National Labor Relations Board in Los Angeles. He soon looked for a different kind of work. He then joined the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. This office is responsible for prosecuting crimes.
Darden first worked in the Huntington Park office. Later, he moved to the Beverly Hills office. By late 1983, he was working at the Criminal Courts Building in downtown Los Angeles. During his time there, he worked in different units. These included central trials and hardcore gang units. In 1988, he moved to the Special Investigation Division (SID). This division looks into criminal actions by public officials and law enforcement.
While in SID, Darden met Johnnie Cochran, another lawyer. Cochran represented people who said they were victims of police violence. Darden and Cochran became good friends. Darden looked up to Cochran as a mentor.
The O. J. Simpson Trial
Christopher Darden became involved in the Murder trial of O. J. Simpson because of his skills as a prosecutor. Deputy District Attorneys Marcia Clark and William Hodgman asked him to lead the case against Al Cowlings. Cowlings was a friend of O. J. Simpson. He was the driver of the white Ford Bronco during a famous car chase.
After his work on the Cowlings case, Marcia Clark asked Darden to join the main Simpson trial team. He became the case manager. His job was to help prepare the prosecution's witnesses for their testimony. This included preparing Detective Mark Fuhrman. When William Hodgman became ill, Darden was named a co-prosecutor.
The trial was very challenging. Darden's friendship with Johnnie Cochran, who was a key lawyer for Simpson's defense, became difficult. This was because they were on opposite sides of the case. In the end, O. J. Simpson was found not guilty.
After the Trial
After the O. J. Simpson trial, Darden left the District Attorney's office. He joined the faculty at Southwestern University School of Law. He taught classes on criminal procedure and how to argue cases in court.
Darden also became a legal commentator for TV channels like CNBC, CNN, Court TV, and NBC. He often appeared as a guest on news shows. He also made guest appearances on TV shows like Touched by an Angel, Girlfriends, and Roseanne. He was also the main lawyer in the TV show Power of Attorney.
Christopher Darden is also an author. He wrote a book called In Contempt about his experiences during the Simpson trial. He also co-wrote several crime novels with Dick Lochte. These include The Trials of Nikki Hill (1999), LA Justice (2000), and The Last Defense (2002). In 1996, he was on the cover of Newsweek magazine. The article was titled "My Case Against O.J."
In 1999, Darden left the law school. He started his own law firm, Darden & Associates, Inc. His firm focuses on defending people accused of crimes and handling civil lawsuits. In 2007, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger considered him for a judgeship.
In 2006, Darden said in an interview that he still believed O. J. Simpson was guilty. He also said he was very upset by the false testimony given by Mark Fuhrman.
In 2012, Darden made a claim about Johnnie Cochran, who had passed away. He said Cochran had "manipulated" one of the gloves used as evidence in the Simpson trial. However, another lawyer, Alan Dershowitz, said this claim was not true.
Recent Cases
In April 2019, Darden represented Eric Ronald Holder, Jr. at his first court appearance. Holder was accused of murdering rapper Nipsey Hussle. Darden entered a "not guilty" plea for Holder. However, Darden left the case in May 2019. He received many threats for representing Holder.
As of 2020, Darden was representing a man accused of threatening a TV crew. This happened at a protest rally in Huntington Beach. The man was accused of forcing the crew to delete their video footage.
In August 2020, it was reported that Darden would briefly represent Corey Walker. Walker was accused of killing rapper Pop Smoke.
In 2024, Darden ran for judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. However, he did not win the election, losing to Leslie Gutierrez.
Personal Life
Christopher Darden married Marcia Carter, a TV executive, on August 31, 1997. They have three children together. Darden also has two children from before their marriage.
Honors and Awards
- In 1998, Darden received the Crystal Heart Award. This award came from Loved Ones of Homicide Victims. This group helps families who have lost loved ones due to violence.
- In 2000, he was named "Humanitarian of the Year" by Eli Horne. This is a California shelter that helps abused children and women.
See also
In Spanish: Christopher Darden para niños
