Simpson makes first appearance at civil trial

SANTA MONICA, California (CNN) -- As a crowd of demonstrators chanted "DNA, DNA" and counterdemonstrators yelled back, O.J. Simpson made his first appearance at the courthouse Friday for his wrongful-death civil trial.

Accompanied by his sister, Shirley Baker, and her husband, Bennie, Simpson entered the building through a side door and watched as Superior Court Judge Hiroshi Fujisaki began asking prospective jurors about their opinion of him.

Simpson is being sued by the families of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. The former football star was acquitted in a criminal trial last year of their June 12, 1994, stabbing deaths.

Simpson missed opening court sessions because he was in Orange County fighting for custody of his two youngest children. That court contest is recessed until November.

Fujisaki hurried through hardship questioning of the first two panels of jurors, summoning 94 prospects. He asked them about their exposure to publicity and their views on Simpson's criminal trial, including his acquittal.

When the first 10 prospects were questioned Friday, a plaintiff's lawyer challenged a black man who said he believed there was a cover-up in the murder investigation, but that the police work was fair. After the man added he was undecided about the criminal trial verdict and thought he could be impartial, the judge kept him.

"This is probably the most important phase of jury selection, and jury selection may be the most important phase of the trial," said Loyola Law School Dean Laurie Levenson. "This will be the chance for lawyers to see whether these are jurors with an agenda."

Like other legal observers, Levenson expressed surprise at the lightning pace set by Fujisaki, who has rejected many claims of hardship and refused to listen to prospective jurors who said they merely didn't want to serve.

"He's going to wind up with a lot of reluctant, unhappy jurors," said Levenson. "And if they don't want to be there, they may not listen to the evidence. It's dangerous to force people into jury service."

In two days of jury questioning, the judge processed 315 panelists. Of those, 169 were ordered to stay and fill out more questionnaires regarding publicity. An additional 146 were sent back for assignment to other court cases.

On Thursday, Fujisaki said he had complied with an appellate ruling that voided some of his media restrictions and part of his gag order. He said he would give up trying to keep witnesses from expressing opinions about the trial, although attorneys still are barred from public comment.

The 2nd District Court of Appeals had found those provisions too broad. The judge also will allow sketch artists in court, but he said they can sketch only on materials larger than a legal pad.

In another development, an appeals court turned down a petition by Franklin Communications to allow radio broadcasts of the trial.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

• Simpson must hand over key videotape in civil trial September 19, 1996
• Judge has no-excuses attitude in picking Simpson jurors September 18, 1996
• Simpson civil trial convenes Tuesday - September 16, 1996
• O.J. Simpson scheduled to appear in two courts - September 12, 1996
• Simpson judge gets tough at civil trial - September 4,1996
• Media challenge gag order on Simpson civil trial - August 31, 1996
• O.J. Simpson rips media at D.C. appearance - August 29, 1996

Related sites:

• CNN Interactive's O.J. Simpson main page
• Simpson Court Transcripts

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