Christopher Darden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Christopher Darden
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Chris 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 on April 7, 1956, is an American lawyer and writer. He also gives talks and has run for judge. He worked for 15 years in the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office. He became well-known across the country for his role in the famous court case involving O. J. Simpson.
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Early Life and Education
Chris Darden was born in Richmond, California. 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.
While at San Jose State, he was part of the track and field team. He also joined Alpha Phi Alpha, a fraternity for African-American students. In 1977, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice administration. Darden then went on to study law at the University of California, Hastings. He received his law degree in 1980.
Career as a Lawyer
Darden passed the California Bar Exam in the summer of 1980. A few months later, he started working at the National Labor Relations Board in Los Angeles.
He wanted a different career path, so he applied for a job with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Darden was hired and began his work there. He first worked in the Huntington Park office. Later, he moved to Beverly Hills. By late 1983, he was working at the Criminal Courts Building in downtown Los Angeles.
Working as a Prosecutor
As a prosecutor, Darden worked in different units. He served in the central trials unit and the hard-core gang unit. 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 for the first time. Cochran was a lawyer who 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 Case
Darden became involved in the famous Murder trial of O. J. Simpson. Other prosecutors, Marcia Clark and William Hodgman, asked him to help. He was first asked to lead the case against Al Cowlings. Cowlings was Simpson's friend and drove the white Ford Bronco during a well-known car chase.
After his work on the Cowlings case, Clark asked Darden to join the Simpson team. He became a case manager because Clark and Hodgman were very busy. Darden also helped prepare witnesses for their testimony. This included preparing Detective Mark Fuhrman, a key witness. When Hodgman became ill, Darden was named a co-prosecutor.
Darden's friendship with Cochran became difficult during the trial. Cochran was a main lawyer on Simpson's defense team. Their different views on the case caused strain. Simpson was found not guilty in the trial.
After the Simpson Case
After the Simpson case, Darden left the District Attorney's office. He began teaching at the Southwestern University School of Law. He taught about criminal procedure and how to argue cases in court.
Darden has also worked as a legal expert for TV channels like CNBC, CNN, and Fox News Network. He has appeared as a guest on many shows. These include Touched by an Angel, Girlfriends, and Roseanne. He was also the main lawyer in a TV show called Power of Attorney.
Darden is also a writer. He wrote a book called In Contempt about his experiences with the Simpson trial. He also 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 criminal defense and civil litigation. In 2007, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger considered him for a judgeship.
In 2019, Darden represented Eric Ronald Holder, Jr. for a short time. Holder was accused in a high-profile case. Darden later left the case. He received threats for representing Holder.
In 2024, Darden ran for judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. However, he did not win the election.
Personal Life
Chris Darden married Marcia Carter, a TV executive, on August 31, 1997. They have three children together. Darden also had two children 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
