European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 25, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Robert Shapiro Johnnie Cochran and . Simpson listen to pretrial testimony monday in los Angeles the defense lawyers research and strategy by Linda Deutsch associated press , Simpson defense team is a Tough i Legal machine powered by the savvy and i showmanship of world class litigators the j scholarly talents of a Law school Dean and a the research expertise of Young lawyers. They Are ready to play hardball. During pretrial hearings and through Media leaks they have attempted to Sully a police detectives reputation with accusations of racism and to paint police technicians As careless tumblers. Their numbers alone Are enough to intimidate any opposition ten attorneys plus a backup staff of forensic experts researchers Dan experts and private detectives a an unusually Large contingent for the defense of one Man. In the Legal Constellation of 10, there Are four superstars Robert Shapiro Johnnie Cochran f. Lee Bailey and Alan Dershowitz. Only Shapiro and Cochran Are expected to take Active roles in court but Bailey a flair for drama and his behind the scenes strategy zing with longtime Friend Shapiro could play heavily into the defense plan. Shapiro the self described Captain of the defense ship is Likely to have Competition for the Helm. A smooth talking Well liked lawyer who has special Izzedin representing stars of sports and entertainment his reputation is As a savvy  he has negotiated plea bargains in High profile cases including a murder charge against Marlon Brando a son Christian. Legal observers say Shapiro is smart ethical and reasonable. But his courtroom style is an Enigma. Shapiro surprised Many when he announced that Cochran a close Friend of Simpsons was joining the 8 defense team. A former assistant District attorney Cochran is known for taking Center stage at trials and staying there. He is revered for his skill As a courtroom performer whether representing aggrieved citizens in police abuse cases or the Rich and famous including Singer Michael Jackson. Can these two Legal superego coexist a what i would expect is that Johnnie Cochran would step to the fore and Shapiro would melt into the background a Little More a los Angeles defense attorney Harland Braun said. If Shapiro and Cochran fight for control Braun said a then the ultimate decision will rest with the one person whose life is on the line and that a .�?� Marcia Clark William Hodgman aim to convict. The prosecution Clark Hodgman Case the prosecution team in the . Simpson Case is a made for to duo a an Eclectic blend of Good cop bad cop Deputy District attorneys with vividly contrasting styles. There a Gritty in your face Lead prosecutor Marcia Clark. Then there a the Nice Guy professionalism of William Hodgman a lawyer with a reputation for playing by the rules. Clark made her Mark prosecuting the killer of a to actress. Hodgman mastered the complexities of savings and loan fraud to convict Charles Keating in a massive swindle. A Hodgman gets the highest Marks from everyone a said Loyola University Law school professor Laurie Levenson a former Federal prosecutor. A a he a respected As very smart Able to organize complicated projects and he does no to lose his  Clark is praised by other prosecutors for her Diligence. She a also criticized by some court observers As abrasive a Label that does no to sit Well with one of her greatest fans Dana Schaeffer the Mother of slam to actress Rebecca Schaeffer. A just because she a a woman and articulate they say she a abrasive a Schaeffer said. A a she a terribly smart and articulate and she lands on her feet. And she a a really caring  during the 2vi years it took to bring Robert John Bardo to trial in the Schaeffer slaying the actress Mother said Clark kept her apprised of All developments and despite being pregnant with her second child a she worked like a dog. I remember her coming into court staggering under a Load of  Clarks take no prisoners methodology was demonstrated at the Start of the Bardo Case when the accused killer was traced to Arizona arrested and jailed there. In a daring Mission soon after she was assigned the Case Clark snatched Bardo from under the nose of his Public defender and spirited him away to los Angeles thus avoiding the lengthy process of extradition proceedings then District attorney Ira Reiner praised Clark for seizing the Opportunity when she realized the Public defender had filed extradition papers in the wrong court. Bardos lawyers accused Clark of violating his rights depriving him of an extradition hearing in which his mental competency to stand trial would have been challenged. She overcame All challenges won Bardos conviction in the non jury trial and failed Only in her Effort to win a death sentence. In the Simpson Case Clark and Hodgman arc backed by the vast staff of the nations largest prosecutor Al office investigators from the los Angeles police department and another Deputy District attorney who is an expert on Dan evidence. Lisa Kahn who prosecuted the first Dan criminal jury trial in California in 1990 after conducting a seven month hearing on the admissibility of the evidence has argued almost All Dan issues in the Simpson Case. A a Linda Deutsch judge Ito from Keating to Simpson As a Long distance runner who works endless hours Superior court judge Lance Ito seems to have been in training to tackle the most challenging Marathon of his career the . Simpson trial. Since taking the double murder Case in july Ito has presided Over a string of nationally televised pc trial hearings in which his Quirky humor and even temperament have won him peer Praise a and a few fans. Ito was persuaded to take the Case by supervising Superior court judge Cecil Mills who reportedly chose him because of his Legal acumen and disposition. Ito sometimes appeared overwhelmed by the plethora of lawyers reporters and spectators clamouring for space in the Simpson trial. He remarked one Day that he had never seen so Many defense lawyers on one Case. Ito had once contemplated moving to juvenile court to accomplish his career goals but instead wound up with two of the highest profile criminal cases in recent memory a the savings and loan fraud trial of Charles Keating and Simpson. After the Keating Case he was named the los Angeles county bar associations 1992 trial judge of the year. He also is a member of the japanese american bar association. Ito 43, the son of two schoolteachers graduated from Urcla with honors in political science in 1972 and from Law school at the University of California Berkeley in 1975. Linda Deutsch Lance Ito september 25, 1994. Sunday Page 5