Reporter’s Notebook

FOLLOWING THE ARREST OF O.J. SIMPSON there was quite a bit of speculation around the courthouse as to who would represent the Heisman Trophy winner and what the legal defense might be.

One attorney, who is not representing Simpson in the memorabilia robbery case, suggested a great kicker for closing arguments.

"If it's his (expletive), you must acquit."

K.C. HOWARD

JUDGE NANCY OESTERLE FOUND HERSELF BEFORE A MEDIA MOB on Monday. Pinch-hitting as the designated court spokeswoman on the Simpson case, she responded to nearly 100 media inquiries and appeared on a number of national news programs.

But it wasn't her legal acumen and poise before the cameras that readers of the Wall Street Journal Online law blog focused on:

"Do they have anything but hot blond babes for judges in Las Vegas?" remarked one reader.

"I might even award her millions if she lost her pants," added another sophisticate.

"Judicial notice of her hotness should not be an issue," quipped still another.

Finally, one reader tried unsuccessfully to put the brakes on: "All right, feminists. Come on, tell us what chauvinistic dogs we are."

REPORTERS LINED UP EARLY OUTSIDE the Regional Justice Center on Wednesday morning to get the best seats in court for Simpson's appearance. Some were perturbed to learn Marcia Clark, O.J.'s first prosecutor who now works for Entertainment Tonight, was given priority seating.

But court spokesman Michael Sommermeyer explained he wanted Clark as far away from Simpson in the courtroom to avoid the two being caught together on video.

"I didn't want that dichotomy," Sommermeyer said.

BRIAN HAYNES

SIMPSON'S COURT APPEARANCE ALSO LURED TO THE COURTHOUSE tourists who wanted to witness the biggest news story of the day.

Diane Johnson, 70, from Nebraska, said she was in Las Vegas for four days and couldn't resist leaving the slot machines behind for a chance to see Simpson. Plus, the side trip had another benefit.

"We're saving money while we're here," she joked.

DAVID KIHARA

REPORTERS FRANCIS McCABE AND BRIAN HAYNES helped anchor the Review-Journal's coverage of O.J. Simpson Week. Because their bylines appeared atop several front-page stories, national media outlets called requesting that they discuss the rapidly evolving case, including an MSNBC staffer who hadn't read the byline carefully enough.

MSNBC: Is this Review-Journal reporter Brian McCabe.

McCabe: No, it's Francis McCabe.

MSNBC: I'm sorry, I have the wrong number.

McCabe: No, you have the right number.

MSNBC: So this is Brian?

McCabe: No, my name is Francis.

MSNBC: I'm sorry to bother you. I'll try the number again.

McCabe: Ma'am, you have the right number, but my name is Francis McCabe, not Brian McCabe.

Despite attempts to clarify things, the conversation went on like that for several more seconds.

AS A HANDFUL OF REPORTERS WAITED BEHIND THE COUNTY JAIL on Sunday for Simpson to arrive, O.J. fan Wan Ali offered this comment to the media: "It'd be funny if they (police) brought Simpson in a white Bronco. It'd be just like old times."

DAVID KIHARA

media interest in Simpson's accommodations at the Clark County Detention Center prompted a press release from authorities that, among other things, said "Simpson was issued the standard inmate clothing. (See attached photo.)" The photo showed the blue pants and shirt set and orange sandals that inmates wear. The Review-Journal's intrepid intern reporter Beth Walton dug deeper. She pressed officials and learned that Simpson was also wearing orange boxers under those blue pants.

PATRICK McDONNELL

AT A NEWS CONFERENCE WEDNESDAY DETAILING HOW HILLARY CLINTON'S health care proposals would affect Nevadans, the Democratic presidential candidate's state campaign chairman, Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid, said wryly, "I'd like to start by thanking the members of the media who are here and not out covering O.J. Simpson." It was later discovered that the Review-Journal was the only media outlet in attendance.

You're welcome, commissioner.

MOLLY BALL

AFTER 14 PEOPLE WERE INJURED WHEN A BLUE PONTIAC drove up on the sidewalk in front of the Planet Hollywood Resort on the Strip Wednesday afternoon, more than one reporter had only one question for authorities: "Was O.J. driving?"

FRANCIS McCABE

YEARS BEFORE THE JUICE WAS ARRESTED IN THE MEMORABILIA ROBBERY CASE, O.J. Simpson was arrested here for robbing a delivery man.

In 1996, Orenthal J. Simpson robbed a delivery man from the Dragon Palace restaurant. But it wasn't the 60-year-old former Heisman Trophy winner. It was a 19-year-old with the same name.

While investigating the 1996 theft, Las Vegas police found the 6-foot-2-inch, 320-pound Simpson at the apartment complex where the robbery took place. Inside Simpson's apartment was cash and Chinese food delivery boxes from the Dragon Palace.

Simpson, now 30, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 24 to 60 months in prison.

Metropolitan Police Department officer Chuck Collingwood was one of the arresting officers. "It took us a little while to put it together. But when we did, we asked if he was related (to the football player O.J. Simpson). We weren't trying to make fun of him. We were just curious," Collingwood said.

DAVID KIHARA