Stephanie L. reviewed The Search for Justice: A Defense Attorney's Brief on the O.J. Simpson Case on + 8 more book reviews
As the lead defense attorney for O.J. Simpson, Shapiro is ably suited to play the role of the avid apologist for both his client and the American criminal justice system, which assumes that a defendant is innocent until guilt is proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The author reminds us that the burden of proof rests with the prosecution and that the defense needs only to cast sufficient doubt on the state's case to bring about acquittal. Countering the prosecution's "mountain of evidence" with a "mountain of doubt," Shapiro shows how he and his colleagues were able to punch holes in such key areas as crime scene management, evidence collection and storage, crime lab techniques and conditions, DNA sample reliability, and the credibility and character of many of the prosecution's witnesses, most notably the now infamous Mark Fuhrman. The author does a good job of convincing the reader that fairness and justice dictated the verdict. His excellent book also penetrates the innermost workings of the defense team. Recommended for anyone interested in the tactics and strategies of criminal trial lawyers.
