Marcia Clark on "The People vs. O.J. Simpson," Sexism, and Her Latest Book

Marcia Clark is best known for being the lead prosecutor for theO.J. Simpson murder trial. The former Heisman Trophy Winner wasaccused and found not guilty of the June 1994 death of Nicole BrownSimpson and waiter Ronald Lyle Goldman in a trial that captivatedthe country. Thrust back into the spotlight by "The People vs. O.J.Simpson" miniseries, a new generation is now fascinated by Clark,the discrimination she faced during the trial, and the writingcareer that followed.

In this episode of the ABA Law StudentPodcast, hosts Fabiani Duarte andSandy Gallant-Jones sit down with Marcia Clark,most notably known for serving as the prosecutor for the trial ofO.J. Simpson, to discuss her new novel “Blood Defense.” Marciaprovides deeper insight into the motivation behind the creation of,and the personality differences between, her long running characterRachel Knight and her new protagonist, Samantha Brinkman. She alsospeaks briefly about her experience writing through theprosecutorial lens and the catalyst behind her recent shift towardswriting from the perspective of the defense. The focus of thediscussion then pivots toward an analysis of her experiences duringthe O.J. Simpson case and her prosecutorial experience. Marciareflects on the adversity she faced during the trial as shebalanced raising a family, fighting a custody battle, and thesexism she experienced in the courtroom and the office. She closesthe interview with advice on helpful skills that law students candevelop while in school, such as discipline and persistence, andhow those experiences can be applied to their work in theprofession.