OJ Simpson Trial: Where Prosecutors Marcia Clark & Christopher Darden Are Now

As shown throughout American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson, what was considered by many to be the "trial of the century" had a profound impact on everybody involved. In 1995, American football player and actor O.J. Simpson was tried for the murders of his former wife, Nicole Brown, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. Simpson's trial, which lasted 11 months, was televised, which allowed the media and the public to follow the proceedings and deliberate on the eventual outcome of the verdict. Netflix's newest TV show offers new insight into the murders, the criminal proceedings and how the trial impacted everybody involved.

The two main prosecutors of The People of the State of California v. Orenthal James Simpson were Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden; Clark served as the lead prosecutor of the trial and Darden acted as co-counsel. In one of several shocking revelations from American Manhunt, the prosecution team had a difficult time getting the jury to believe the DNA evidence presented during the trial as there was little proper understanding of DNA analysis during criminal investigations. Both Clark and Darden received significant media attention throughout the proceedings and both went on to have successful careers after the trial.

Marcia Clark Became An Author After The OJ Simpson Trial

Clark Has Released A Memoir And Two Crime Fiction Series

Marcia Clark received a large amount of media attention during her time as the lead prosecutor of O.J. Simpson's trial; she was notably, the only female prosecutor serving in the case. While serving as lead prosecutor, Clark was in the process of a divorce and custody battle with her second husband, Gordon Clark, with whom she had two sons (via The Washington Post). Clark's personal life and physical appearance caused her to face heavy scrutiny; she received significant attention from the media for changing her hairstyle as the trial progressed (via Los Angeles Times).

Clark later spoke about the attention she received during the Simpson trial, saying she was "famous in a way that was kind of terrifying. I had no protection" and that it took years for life to return to a form of normality for her (via Vogue). Clark signed a book deal after the O.J. Simpson trial worth $4.2 billion and released a memoir, Without a Doubt, in 1997 (via The Hollywood Reporter). She has written 10 novels, six in the Rachel Knight series and four in the Samantha Brinkman series.

Marcia Clark has also made numerous appearances on television, serving as a correspondent on Entertainment Tonight, appearing as a guest diner during the 18th season finale of Hell's Kitchen in 2019, and portraying attorney Sidney Burnes in an episode of Pretty Little Liars in 2013. Clark appeared in the Oscar-winning docuseries O.J. Made In America in 2016 and has expressed her astonishment at the continued interest in the trial, stating, "I thought everybody was pretty tired of it" (via The Wrap).

Christopher Darden Ran For LA Country Superior Court Judge In 2024

Darden Lost To Leslie Gutierrez In The 2024 Election In Los Angeles

Christopher Darden began his legal career at the Criminal Courts Building in Los Angeles in 1983, before transferring to the Special Investigation Division in 1988; it was there that Darden first met Johnnie Cochran, who served alongside Carl Douglas as part of O.J. Simpson's "Dream Team." Darden worked on the prosecution of Al Cowlings, who was involved in O.J Simpson's Ford Bronco chase, and later joined the prosecution team of Simpson's trial. In the Netflix docuseries, Darden revealed that he was initially banned from making a closing statement because of his decision to make Simpson try on the gloves from the crime scene during the trial.

After O.J. Simpson's acquittal, Christopher Darden released a memoir about the case, In Contempt, in 1996. He joined the Southwestern University School of Law as a professor of law for five years (via Southwestern Law School). He has served as a legal commentator for different television networks, including CNN and NBC, and has made numerous guest appearances on multiple television shows, including Roseanne, Muppets Tonight, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Girlfriends, and Touched By An Angel (via E! Online). In later years, Darden expressed his pain at being seen as a "traitor to his own race" during the trial (via NBC News).

In 2024, Darden ran for Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge against Leslie Gutierrez and Osman Taher; in the early stages of the election, Darden revealed he had support from retired Judge Lance Ito, who presided over the Simpson trial (via Black Enterprise). Ronald Goldman's sister, Kim, who appeared in American Manhunt, also endorsed Darden, stating "Christopher Darden was a friend to my family during one of the darkest times in our lives" (via Los Angeles Magazine). Darden ultimately lost the election to Leslie Gutierrez, receiving 31.2% of the public vote against Gutierrez's 57.9% (via Ballotpedia).

Are Marcia Clark & Christopher Darden Still Practicing Lawyers?

Both Clark and Darden Left The District Attorney's Office After The Trial

After the trial, both Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden resigned from the District Attorney's office in Los Angeles. In her memoir, Without a Doubt, Clark wrote that after the verdict, she felt "such guilt. I felt like I'd let everyone down" (via The Guardian). While she no longer practices law, Marcia Clark has served as a legal commentator on other high-profile cases; notably, she appeared on an episode of The First 48, where she analyzed evidence from the Casey Anthony trial (via Newsweek). Clark appeared in archival footage in American Manhunt, commentating on Simpson's armed robbery conviction.

After his resignation,Christopher Darden started his own law practice, the Darden Law Group, in Los Angeles. In 2019, Darden represented Eric Ronald Holder Jr. in his trial for the murder of Nipsey Hussle but dropped out due to receiving death threats. Darden also briefly represented Corey Walker in his arraignment for the murder of Pop Smoke in 2020 (via The Source). Darden expressed his beliefs on race relations in America in American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson, stating that "not a whole hell of a lot" has changed in the three decades since the infamous trial.

Sources: The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Vogue, The Hollywood Reporter, The Wrap, Southwestern Law School, EOnline, NBCNews, Black Enterprise, Los Angeles Magazine, Ballotpedia, The Guardian, Newsweek, The Source

American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson

TV-MA

Documentary

Crime

9.0/10

Release Date

2025 - 2025-00-00

American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson is a documentary series examining the infamous O.J. Simpson case. Released in 2025, it delves into the murder trial that captivated global audiences, exploring its cultural impact and enduring legacy.

Network

Netflix

Cast

O.J. Simpson

Directors

Floyd Russ

Producers

Tiller Russell, William Green, Aaron L. Ginsburg, Ali Brown

Seasons

1

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