Kris Jenner’s 9-27 OJS Trial Photo Finish

Photojournalist Haywood Galbreath, the only photographer  who shot pictures in Judge Lance Ito’s courtroom every day of the O.J. Simpson trial, saw a previous blog post in which I wrote that the only day I knew of that Kris Jenner attended the OJ Simpson trial in person was Sept. 27, 1995, less than a week before the trial ended in not guilty verdicts. Here’s the photo Galbreath took that day, Sept. 27, 1995, of Kris Jenner, her then-husband Bruce Jenner on her right, and to her left Steve Garvey’s wife and Steve Garvey.

MPJI/HGSTAR1 NEWSPHOTO

Galbreath says he took took pictures of people (who thought they were somebody) who showed up in the courtroom.

Kardashian-Jenner Ex a One-Time Show

I’m trying to square this as reported in People magazine:

“Kris Jenner still recalls sitting in the courtroom during the trial of O.J. Simpson, hanging on every word, still grieving the loss of her best friend, Nicole Brown Simpson.”

According to my records and memory, Kris Jenner made it into the courtroom a grand total of once, and that was Sept. 27, 1995, a full 15 months after Nicole Brown was murdered and more than nine months after the trial’s opening statements.

That’s right, more than nine months after the trial’s opening statements. That means, while she was indeed pregnant–very pregnant according to my memory of her that day–as the People piece points out, she became so after the trial began. That should be neither here nor there, except that almost every mention of her in connection with the trial includes a reference to her being pregnant.

What merits noting is that she was not a frequent courtroom attendee. Here’s my account in Anatomy of a Trial of the only day in my records that Kris and her husband at that time, Bruce Jenner, came to the Simpson trial:

“Another day of a strange star alignment occurred less than a week before the trial ended. On September 27, Ito had given the two courtroom seats he held in reserve for his use, generally for visiting judges, his parents or other relatives, to a songwriter, David Foster, he knew and Foster’s wife. The wife had previously been married to former Olympian Jenner. And there in court that same day was Jenner with his current wife, who was the ex-wife of Simpson attorney Robert Kardashian.^[i] The Jenners sat with former baseball star Garvey and his wife, who, months earlier, had been a prosecution witness.

            “While the media didn’t miss a chance to report on celebrity comings and goings, their accounts were silent on the non-stars he met with, often sacrificing lunch or a couple minutes of down time to do so.”

[i].  Author’s notes, Author’s journal, September 27, 1995.

Media-Created Persona

“It is tempting to assume he (U.S. District Judge Richard Berman) is a Patriots fan,” Alan Fredregill of Sioux City wrote in his Sept. 13, 2015, letter to the Des Moines (Iowa) Register, in which he asserted that the “Deflategate” was blinded by the celebrity of Tom Brady. “It also looks like he, just like Judge Ito at O.J. Simpson’s murder trial, was star-struck by Brady’s celebrity status.”

If Mr. Fredregill has truly bought the media-created persona that O.J. Simpson judge, Lance Ito, was too dazzled by the celebrity of Simpson at his trial 20 years ago to be objective or preside appropriately over that trial, then Fredregill will understand why many consumers of today’s media believe that all Iowans are hayseed rubes who can’t find their way out of a cornfield.

Fredregill and all who have swallowed the media-spewed star-struck Ito image need to read Anatomy of a Trial: Public Loss, Lessons Learned from The People vs. O.J. Simpson available from Amazon in hard copy and as an ebook.

Sunday Letters: Another judge caves to celebrity

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/2015/09/11/sunday-letters-another-judge-caves-celebrity/71929676/

Jury Instructions, Shipp Happens

Informal meeting,

Then argue in open court.

Jury instructions.

9/21/95

A great sign that the trial might be coming to a close.

Simpson had a dream.

Should Ito have let it in?

Face it, Shipp happens.

9/21/95

When defense attorneys complained that  Ito erred in allowing LAPD officer and Simpson friend Ron Shipp’s testimony that Simpson had dreamed about killing Nicole, Ito quipped, “Shipp happens.

Yesterday, Today: Nobody’s Happy

My haiku from 20 years ago yesterday:

Judge Manella asked.

Two witnesses protected.

The plug briefly pulled.

9/19/95

Ito excluded camera coverage of the testimony of two small-time hoods, who apparently were informants, at the request of U.S. Attorney and former L.A. Superior Court Judge Nora Manella.

“The men were not in the federal witness protection program, ” I wrote in Anatomy of a Trial. “They had given interviews, had been photographed, and had appeared on TV.

“‘It was just too funny,’ I recorded in my journal. ‘There two characters were right out of central casting, with shiny silver pants and wide shoulder-padded jackets. There were just incredible. Tony “The Animal” [Fiato] in particular.’

“[Defense jury consultant Jo-Ellan] Dimitrius, who often sat next to me in the courtroom, said she thought we should all have mafia names and than mine could be Jerrianne “The Muscle” Hayslett, which I figured referred to my role as media enforcer.”

From 20 years ago today:

A simple syringe.

A simple stipulation.

Both parties draw blood.

9/20/95

What should have been a quick stipulation by both sides concerning the syringe used to draw a sample of Simpson’s blood deteriorated into an acrimonious squabble that angers Judge Ito so much he left the bench and courtroom so he could cool down.

 

A Three-Fer One Day

I must have been pretty bored to have written three haiku in one day.

What’s rebuttal scope?

Will jurors see glove photos?

A few, Ito rules.

9/11/95

It appears the prosecution has begun to put on its rebuttal case.

 Defense neckties match.

What do all those symbols mean?

Kunta Kinte cloth.

9/11/95

 This was such a sight. People were asking if there was a sale on the ties. Some had to ask was Kunta Kinte cloth was.  Those who had read Alex Haley’s book, Roots, knew.

Gloves both black and brown.

What’s the probative value?

She bought him two pairs.

9/11/95

Since the videos of Simpson broadcasting for the NFL showed him wearing both black and brown gloves, the defense asked about the probative value of showing the videos to the jury. The prosecution said they proved Nicole had bought Simpson two pairs of gloves.

Thank Goodness!

 Forest Lawn’s the scene,

No camera was present.

The press shows respect.

8/24/95

Unbelievably, the news media didn’t show up at the funeral of Judge Ito’s step-grandson, who died of cystic fibrosis. I think he was relieved and I was pleased.

Galbreath Shot Like A Pro

Because he was–and still is.

I’ve written about Mr. Haywood Galbreath before, both in my book Anatomy of a Trial and on this blog. In this post, Haywood Galbreath does the writing. Below is a Facebook status update he posted yesterday. I’ll thank Haywood right here for paying me perhaps the highest compliment any member of the news media has ever given me. 

***

Today is a very historic day for the Black Press of America reference photojournalism. 21 years ago today the honorable judge Lance Ito who was presiding over the O.J. Simpson double murder trial. I made a very controversial and courageous decision. When he agreed to give the Black Press of America a photo position inside the O.J. Simpson double murder trial. Never before in the history of America had a judge been courageous enough or believed in equality enough to make that type of decision.

On July 22, 1994 when I stepped into that courtroom on behalf of the Black Press of America history was made. I however had no idea what lay ahead for me and the Black Press of Americas for the next 15 months. And I like many who had come before me in the fight for equality for black Americans. I now understand what it’s like to be put through hell in life on earth! For standing up for what you have a right to be a part of.

Mainstream medias biggest argument (mainstream media meaning white owned news organizations) their biggest argument was that the Black Press of America did not have the skill to be able to shoot such a major and import and news event. That black photojournalist could work for them but could not because of lack of skill set beside them as an equal!

On July 22nd 1994 that myth that they created that still exist today. That myth should have been put to rest. When I standing beside their best photojournalist captured an image that they messed and thay had to call my organization representing the Black Press of America for the image!

Even though I advocated for the Black Press of America to have equal access. If not for the help of Ms.Jerrianne Hayslett and the honorable Judge Lance Ito this historic event of equal access for the Black Press of America in what became the largest media event of the 20th century never would’ve happened!

For myself and for the Black Press of America. I am eternally grateful Ms.Hayslett and Judge Ito recognized how significant it was for all parties involved to be represented equally in the area of media. Especially in the area of photojournalism because of the power of the images!

The photo below is the photo that mainstream media had to get from the Black Press of America. The same Black Press of America that they argued adamantly should not have a photo position in the courtroom because we didn’t have the skill like they did to capture the moment!
Sincerely,
-History making photojournalist Haywood Galbreath/On behalf of the Black Press of America-

Marcia, Marcia, Marcia

Marcia runs them down,

Casting nasty aspersions.

Cough up two-fifty!

7/20/95

Ito fined Marcia Clark $250 for making disparaging remarks at Simpson’s lawyers. That was some pretty expensive lip.

 

Gabber Is Out, Mimic Wants In

She was a talker.

And begs to regain her seat.

Kristin Jeannette-Meyers.

7/14/95

Yep, the same Kristin Jeannette-Meyers you’ve met in earlier posts on this blog.

Lance danced all night – not!

The Star caught him on camera.

Impersonator.

7/15/95

Jay Leno’s “Dancing Itos” weren’t the only look-a-likes. So, no. That’s wasn’t the real Judge Lance Ito the paparazzi photographed partying hearty.

Info about Anatomy of a Trial at www.anatomyofatrial.com.