O.J. Simpson, the one-time Heisman-winning, Hall of Fame footballer, was found guilty of a plethora of charges related to an armed burglary and kidnapping in Las Vegas, and could spend the rest of his life in prison. This comes 14 years after allegedly killing his wife and a friend of hers. A jury found him not guilty for those crimes (although a civil court found him guilty), and he was acquitted. Thirteen years after that trial, he is finally convicted set to be put behind bars for a very long time.

The New York Times article describing the case made the point that no one cared this time around.

“Instead of millions of Americans obsessively stewing over the daily details in the case against him, a city block set aside for media tents was largely empty for the four-week trial. Mr. Simpson’s comings and goings were barely noticed.”

“Public interest in the trial was minimal. Seats in the Las Vegas courtroom set aside for the public were vacant most of the time.”

I lived in Los Angeles during the time of the murder trial, and it was all the media would talk about for weeks. The article mentions the possibility that the LA jury got it right, but the overwhelming opinion at the time was that he was guilty. Even the Los Angeles Times, which had been at the center of the media frenzy in 1995, notes the lackluster interest this time around.

Even though more than a decade late, and on different charges, the feeling among many, including myself, is that justice is finally served.