Simpson civil trial convenes Tuesday

Defense must provide documents showing evidence-fixing

SANTA MONICA, California (CNN) -- On the eve of O.J. Simpson's civil trial, a judge ordered defense attorneys to produce documents supporting the contention that evidence against their client was planted or contaminated.

Simpson was given one week to answer questions about the evidence gathered in connection with the June 1994 murders of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman.

"I'm not satisfied with the nature of the responses filed here before," Judge Hiroshi Fujisaki said Monday. "It amounts to a non-response."

Simpson has until September 23 to submit the court-ordered written answers or, the judge warned, he could be prevented from using that defense.

The trial officially gets underway on Tuesday when Fujisaki will decide on some 40 motions. Jury selection is expected to begin Wednesday in the wrongful death lawsuit, in which the victims' families are suing Simpson for unspecified damages.

Simpson himself was expected to miss Tuesday's formal opening, as he was scheduled to testify in the custody battle over the two children he had with Nicole Brown Simpson.

Simpson, who did not attend Monday's hearing, has not answered specific questions regarding, among other things, blood and trace evidence such as hair and fibers found at the crime scene. Attorneys for Goldman's family complained to the court that Simpson and his attorneys simply referred to large segments of transcripts from the criminal trial.

In the criminal trial, allegations about a police frame-up formed the foundation of the defense strategy that led to Simpson's unanimous acquittal on double murder charges last October.

This time around, cameras are barred from the courtroom, and Simpson will be compelled to testify. The jury does not have to reach a unanimous verdict -- just nine of the 12 have to agree to find for or against Simpson.

Testimony is expected to last about four months, less than half the time of the criminal trial. Simpson cannot be sent to jail, but could face millions of dollars in damages.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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