If the Juice Gets on the Loose
O.J Simpson has a parole hearing Thursday. The cable networks will be covering the hearing live, because that’s what one does when Orenthal James Simpson is in a courtroom.
Simpson has spent eight years behind bars, after being convicted of kidnapping and armed robbery in a brutish and idiotic attempt to regain some of his own sports memorabilia. Yep. He got away with a double murder, but had to do hard time for stealing his own stuff. (Ryan Murphy couldn’t write this insane mix of tragedy, celebrity and comedy. He could only produce an Emmy-winning mini-series about it.)
Simpson was sentenced to 33 years. The judge insisted the harsh sentence had nothing to do with Simpson’s acquittal in the slaying of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. Then again, as Marcia Clark noted, that’s one year for each of the million dollars he owes Goldman’s family from their wrongful death suit. Coincidence? You be the judge.
Yet on Thursday, Simpson might well be granted parole. All he needs to do is land four of the seven members of the Las Vegas parole board. And though his crime was considered a violent one, he meets other criteria.
- His behavior behind bars — He has a “positive institutional record.”
- Past criminal behavior — The double murder charge doesn’t count. He was acquitted. As far as the criminal legal system is concerned his past is as pure as the driven snow.
- Post prison plans — It’s O.J. Simpson. Autographs, books and reality shows can’t help but be in the mix. Plus he has a $3 million NFL pension that the Goldman’s can’t touch.
Simpson and Concussions
Don’t be surprised if Simpson starts talking about concussions and recent stories connecting football head injuries to changes in behavior including increased violence. One study out last year showed “40% of retired NFL players … had signs of traumatic brain injury.” The diagnosis is called Chronic tramuatic encephalopathy (CTE).
The researcher who helped reveal the NFL’s problem with concussions, Dr. Bennet Omalu, told People magazine he would “bet his medical license” Simpson suffers CTE. Behavior symptoms of CTE include mood disorders, impulsivity and poor judgement.
A diagnosis of CTE on Simpson would allow him to say, “See? It wasn’t really me. I would never kill Nicole.”
So, should O.J. Simpson be freed?
#FreetheJuice vs. #KeepOJLockedUp
Former LAPD detective Mark Fuhrman, whose racist remarks were spun by the Dream Team into a grand conspiracy to frame Simpson, is convinced that O.J. will be paroled. “He has done more time for a business dispute robbery where the main suspect knew the victim than any case in my law enforcement experience.” (In a surreal example of how this case remains a media circus, Fuhrman himself will be part of Fox News’ coverage in his role as an law enforcement analyst.)
The prosecutor who put Simpson behind bars has no problem with the Juice getting paroled. Even the victim isn’t fighting it.
However, New York defense attorney Michael Shapiro, who provided commentary during Simpson’s assorted legal battles, has a different take. “The judge believed he got away with murder,” Shapiro told the CBS affiliate in Las Vegas. “That’s the elephant in the room. If the parole authorities feel the same way, he could be in trouble.”
Gregg Jarrett, Fox News host and lawyer, says the Board can use the murder case against Simpson. He cites a provision in the code dealing with “aggravating factors.” It allows the board to consider “… other information … that concerns the Board that the inmate may be a risk to public safety if released on parole.”
Jarrett hopes the Juice remains behind bars. Simpson is “one of the most heinous and depraved killers in modern American history,” Jarrett says, a “ticking time bomb. … Freedom will allow the fuse to be set again.”
If Simpson granted parole Thursday, he will walk out of prison October 1.
Isn’t That O.J. Simpson?
The release of O.J. Simpson is bound to be met with mixed emotions. He did his time for that crime. For some that’ll be enough. Some may well celebrate. Again.
But for those still smarting from that 1995 “not guilty” verdict, seeing Simpson free again could stir old wounds and anger. However, James 1:20 tells us that “human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.” Both David in Psalms and Paul in Ephesians say, “Don’t sin by letting anger control you.”
Put anger away, Paul says in Colossians 3:13, and put on “compassionate hearts, kindness, meekness and patience.”
“Yeah, but he’s a double murderer!”
It isn’t easy, I know. I still get riled when I see that clip of the verdict being read. I hissed at the Dream Team in practically every courtroom scene of FX’s stunning The People v. O.J. Simpson. I propose that the early deaths of Johnny Cochran and Rob Kardashian were from the guilt eating them up inside. I still weep with Fred and Kim Goldman.
Then God again taps me on the shoulder. “Pssst. What don’t I say about prisoners?” When the Bible speaks of bringing out the prisoners from the dungeon (Isaiah 42:7) or visiting those in prison (Matthew 25:35-46), the Lord doesn’t use a qualifier. He doesn’t say “innocent” prisoners.
Truth is, whether behind bars or not, Simpson qualifies as a “captive” the Good News was meant to set free.
Would Jesus hit the Juice up for an autograph? No, but He would treat him with the respect due to a child of God.
