Anatomy of a Trial: Public Loss, Lessons Learned from The People vs. O.J. Simpson [Hardcover]

Jerrianne Hayslett (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0826218229 | ISBN-13: 978-0826218223 | Publication Date: November 1, 2008 | Edition: 1

As the Los Angeles Superior Court s media liaison, Hayslett had unprecedented access to the trial of the century as she attempted to mediate between the court and members of the media. She kept a detailed journal during the proceedings and shares previously undisclosed information to expose some of the myths and stereotypes perpetuated by the trial, while affirming other stories that emerged during that time. The first account written with Judge Ito s cooperation, this book shows how the trial has produced a bunker mentality in the judicial system, shaping media and public access to courts with lasting impact on such factors as cameras in the courtroom, jury selection, admonishments from the bench, and fair-trial/free-press tensions.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Los Angeles Superior Court media adviser Hayslett explores the ramifications of the much publicized 1995 O.J. Simpson murder trial in this unique account focused on Judge Lance Itos role and the media circus inside and outside the courtroom. Ito had once been a rising star in the L.A. legal community and suffered more than other judges presiding over equally high profile trials, argues Hayslett. Though he continues to sit on the bench, Ito has never pursued appointment to a higher court. With excerpts and anecdotes from her personal journal, Hayslett details the difficulties of dealing with the media and the near-impossible task of sequestering a jury for nine months. Interestingly, only two of the original jurors remained at the end of the proceedings. Some may find it ironic that, by publishing yet another account of the highly publicized trial, Hayslett is doing exactly what she condemned in jury members and other trial participants. But insight that comes from her insider status is valuable and may leave readers wishing for her backstage access from the latest chapter in Simpsons ongoing legal battles. (Jan.)
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About the Author

Jerrianne Hayslett continues to work in the field of court-media relations both nationally and internationally. She lives in Milwaukee.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 296 pages
• Publisher: University of Missouri Press; 1 edition (November 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826218229
• ISBN-13: 978-0826218223
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,468,041 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Anatomy of a Trial" surprises, reveals, satisfies, March 22, 2010

By 

C - See all my reviews

This review is from: Anatomy of a Trial: Public Loss, Lessons Learned from The People vs. O.J. Simpson (Hardcover)

Reading yet one more book about the vastly over-written and dissected 1995 Simpson murder trial wasn't particularly high on my to-do list when it came out, especially since it was published so long after the fact, some 13 years post verdict. But since I'd read all the other books about it, I decided to keep my record intact and give "Anatomy of a Trial" a try. Wow, what a surprise.

First, the author and publisher did themselves no favors by choosing the title and subtitle -- "Public Loss, Lessons Learned From The People vs. O.J. Simpson." Rather than being a post-mortum of the trial, it's a behind-the-scenes examination of everybody's behavior and the effect everyone had on each other through the spectrum of media coverage. The subtitle, while more true to what the book is about, sounds a bit wonky and boring. I found it to be neither.

The book reads like a novel full of interesting, eclectic and eccentric characters. It goes beyond just media coverage of the trial and back-scenes antics, though. It looks at how the media coverage has continued to reverberate since then in all kinds of ways and in both the U.S. and other countries. Some of the ways is with judges' decisions about media coverage of high-profile trials, state and national courts' rules about letting courtroom procedures be photographed and broadcast and how people perceive the legal system and its players.

This book goes one step further, though, but recommending what court officials and the media can do to avoid such circuses as the Simpson trial. That part seemed a little like it was tacked on at the end and is definitely of more interest to judges and the media. Despite that, though, this is a book I literally could not put down. It also provided much more of a feeling of "closure" than other books on the subject, which I think a lot of people felt like they needed -- I know I did -- with the shocking verdict.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Story on Courts and the Media, January 28, 2009

By 

Dan Boyle "dan boyle" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Anatomy of a Trial: Public Loss, Lessons Learned from The People vs. O.J. Simpson (Hardcover)

This is perhaps the most riveting and detail book ever on the impact of the media on the courts, and the courts on the media. I loved all the insider information on the O.J. Simpson trial. I couldn't put the book down.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Would not purchase again, January 9, 2009

By 

S. Griffith - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Anatomy of a Trial: Public Loss, Lessons Learned from The People vs. O.J. Simpson (Hardcover)

Thought this book would be more about personal stories about the people involved on the defense and prosecution teams. First half was all about Judge Ito and his involvement, which was quite boring. The second half was a little better but I found it a struggle to keep reading.