October 3, 1995

On this day, after a trial that lasted over 9 months, O. J. Simpson was acquitted for the murder of his ex-wife Nicole and friend Ronald Goldman. The entire process was deemed the "Trial of the Century," and even today is frequently considered the most publicized criminal trial in American history. After such a long case, the "not guilty" verdict was finally delivered by the jury at 10 p.m. that night, when an estimated 100 million people worldwide stopped in order to watch the verdict, leading to an extreme loss of productivity globally.

The case, being so prolific, was a major event in recent history. The prosecution in the case made extensive use of DNA evidence, which was, at the time, a relatively new technology that had not been used in many high profile cases previously; this helped to introduce the concept to the public.

The final decision of the jury can not simply be stated as a good or a bad event. Public polls after the case showed an immense spread in opinion between blacks and whites, making the case one of the most racially separated ones in history. Fears were growing that race riots would likely break out if he was convicted, in comparison to the riots surrounding the Rodney King case. 100 Los Angeles police officers surrounded the courthouse the day of the decision, and the rest throughout the city were put on 12-hour shifts. While the decision cannot be considered good or bad, the history and impact of the case on American culture can definitely be considered monumental.