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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
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Judge In O.J. Simpson Trial Cracks Down

LAS VEGAS (CN) - Judge Jackie Glass, presiding over O.J. Simpson's kidnapping and burglary trial, is making it clear that she's no Lance Ito. The straight-shooting judge shouted at attorneys Tuesday, during the second day of testimony, for their questionable word choices and long-winded examinations - and even chided the jury for slipping chocolate chip cookies to her bailiff.

The first heated exchange came after District Attorney David Roger used the word "robbery" while questioning Bruce Fromong, the sports memorabilia dealer who says O.J. Simpson and other men robbed him of merchandise last year at the Palace Station Casino.

Upon hearing the word "robbery," defense attorney Yale Galanter jumped out of seat and shouted, "Objection!"

Glass snapped back: "Sit down!"

Galanter sank back into his seat and apologized.

"Listen, folks," Glass advised, "the last thing you want me to do as the judge is to start losing my temper in front of the fine ladies and gentlemen of the jury and having to deal with all of you.

"You've been warned, folks."

The judge issued another stern warning after a short midday break. Glass half-jokingly snapped at the jury, which apparently had allowed her bailiff, Arthur, to stash cookies in a cracker box.

"I told you that Arthur couldn't eat sweet foods," she said as she held up the cracker box and pulled out a cookie. "Does this look like a cracker to you?"

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury. I know these came from your jury room, and he is not to have any more."

She then quipped: "He hasn't talked to me since I confiscated them."

Simpson and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart each face 12 counts of robbery, kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon and coercion. If convicted, they could get life in prison.

During questioning Tuesday, defense attorneys tried to poke holes in Fromong's testimony, and manage to get him to contradict himself.

Fromong claimed that he did not try to profit from the confrontation. Defense attorneys then played a tape of the 2007 incident in which Fromong can be heard saying, "It's not ... over. I'll have 'Inside Edition' down here for us tomorrow. I told them I want big money."

Fromong acknowledged that he advertised for sale on eBay the same sports memorabilia allegedly stolen by the former football great.

It was the second day on the witness stand for Fromong, who was excused on Monday after complaining about being lightheaded.

Simpson was acquitted in 1995 of the 1994 double murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman.

Judge Ito, who oversaw the trial, has been criticized for being too lax in the courtroom and for allowing that trial to get out of control.

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