[fishman]

As a trial lawyer who also watched much of the trial, I can say Chris Darden was a mediocre, if not terrible, trial lawyer.  An absolute key to success in trial is thorough and meticulous preparation.  Charisma and histrionics can certainly help, but without mastery of the background, evidence and record in a trial, presence, demeanor and presentation are not enough.  Darden's part of the highly important closing argument was a rambling, incoherent and thoroughly amateurish imitation of what he apparently thought a closing argument was supposed to be.  His questioning of witnesses to me reflected a lack of planning and forethought as to how they might answer and how he should respond.   

The prosecution definitely needed a black attorney on the team, but he was definitely a weak link in an already overmatched team. It will be interesting to see how he's portrayed in the TV series.

[fishman]

As a trial lawyer who also watched much of the trial, I can say Chris Darden was a mediocre, if not terrible, trial lawyer.  An absolute key to success in trial is thorough and meticulous preparation.  Charisma and histrionics can certainly help, but without mastery of the background, evidence and record in a trial, presence, demeanor and presentation are not enough.  Darden's part of the highly important closing argument was a rambling, incoherent and thoroughly amateurish imitation of what he apparently thought a closing argument was supposed to be.  His questioning of witnesses to me reflected a lack of planning and forethought as to how they might answer and how he should respond.   

The prosecution definitely needed a black attorney on the team, but he was definitely a weak link in an already overmatched team. It will be interesting to see how he's portrayed in the TV series.