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Shapiro signs books at Borders

After remaining silent throughout the O.J. Simpson trial, Robert Shapiro is speaking out.

The lawyer who assembled "The Dream Team" of defense attorneys in Simpson's trial appeared at Borders Books and Music yesterday to sign copies of his new book, "The Search For Justice."

Shapiro told The Michigan Daily that the American public got an inside view of the legal system through the Simpson trial.

"(The Simpson case) exposed people to a courtroom as it really is," Shapiro said. "So here people can at least see what goes on, not from TV or a movie, but actually see it."

Shapiro said the questions he fields on the trial are consistently similar, and that he tried to address them in his book.

"No matter where I go, whether with my 12-year-old son at his hockey games, or when I was in Washington with heads of state, people always ask the same questions," Shapiro said.

Shapiro said the prosecution made errors in logic when constructing its case.

"Do you really believe that four lead detectives left the bloodiest crime scene they'd ever seen to go pay virtually a condolence call on O.J. Simpson?" Shapiro said.

He also blasted the prosecution's strategy of featuring Los Angeles Police Department officer Mark Fuhrman as a pivotal player in the case.

"It was a mistake embracing him, and trying to paint him as the symbol of the All-American," Shapiro said.

He said the prosecution failed when it did not bond well with the jury.

"That starts in the voir dire, when you talk to them," Shapiro said. "I think you have to be consistent throughout; you have to be credible, both in your approach and in your demeanor.

"Jurors are smart. They judge people the way we judge each other. ... I always tried to bond with the jury."

Shapiro also said the moment when the jury announced the verdict was very dramatic.

"It was a very emotional time in the courtroom. I congratulated my client, I talked to the prosecutors. But I'm not the type who reacts to jury verdicts in either a celebrating way or in a disappointed way.

"I've always tried to be professional throughout the trial, and at the time the verdict was rendered," Shapiro said.

Michelle Fleischer, national events coordinator for Borders, said Shapiro initially planned to speak at the bookstore. The event was later limited to signing because the crowd was expected to be larger than Borders could accommodate for a speech. Fleischer said copies of "The Search For Justice" have been selling well.

LSA junior Adam Clampitt said Shapiro is a credit to the legal profession.

"I think he's given a great name to defense lawyers," Clampitt said. "If he can get off O.J., he can get off anybody."

LSA sophomore Kevin Fisher said he followed the trial "a decent amount."

"I liked the fact that he (Shapiro) wasn't the big proponent of playing the race card," Fisher said.

Fisher said he thought Simpson was guilty, but that he respects the jury's verdict.