Christopher Darden is a writer, lecturer, and heads the criminal defense department for The Foxx Firm in Culver City. He is a 15-year veteran of the Los Angeles County District Attorney, where he was assigned to the prosecution of O.J. Simpson. During his tenure as a prosecutor, he was the Assistant Head Deputy Attorney of the Special Investigations Division. There for 6 years, his division investigated corrupt public officials, election law violations andpolice officer shootings and allegations of excessive use of force by police. Past assignments also included the Hardcore Gang Division and the Major Crimes Division. He has tried 21homicide cases. Darden received his B.S. in Criminal Justice Administration from California University at San Jose (1977)and his law degree from the University of California, Hasting College of the Law (1980). After leaving theLos Angeles County District Attorney's Office in 1995, Darden joined the faculty at California StateUniversity, Los Angeles, where he taught criminal law.That same year, he was appointed Associate Professor of Law at Southwestern University School of Law,Los Angeles. Darden taught and specialized in criminal procedure and trial advocacy. He left the lawschool in 1999 and immediately started his own firm, Darden & Associates, Inc., specializing in criminaldefense and civil litigation. Darden continues to be an advocate against domestic violence and is active in a variety of local andnational organizations, including the National Bar Association (Lifetime Member), American TrialLawyers Association and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity (Lifetime Member). In 1998, Darden received the Crystal Heart Award from Loved Ones of Homicide Victims, an organization devoted to aiding families that have suffered the loss of loved ones as a result of violence. In 2000 he wasrecognized as "Humanitarian of the Year" by Eli Horne, A California shelter for abused children andwomen. Darden has lectured at America's leading colleges and universities, including but not limited to, IndianaUniversity, University of Pittsburgh, Yale, University of Miami, Mercer University, Pennsylvania, CaseWestern and Georgia State University. He has also spoken on a variety of legal and social issues at major fundraisers, state and regional barassociation convention, and corporate gatherings. Darden is a former legal commentator for NBC and CNBC, and a frequent guest and commentator onCNN, Fox News Network and Court TV. He has appeared on every major television news or talk show.He has made guest appearances on "Touched By an Angel," "Girlfriends," "The Tonight Show With JayLeno," "Roseanne" and the movie "Liar Liar." He is the former principal attorney in the syndicated legalshow "Power of Attorney." Darden is also an accomplished writer. He is the co-author of the former number one New York Times bestseller, "In Contempt" (1996) and "The Trials of Nikki Hill" (1999) and "LA Justice" (2000). In September2002, PAL will publish "The Last Defense," a new crime thriller written by Darden with Dick Lochte. Currently, Darden lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Marcia (Mar-cee-uh) and his three children, Jenee,Christopher, Jr., and Tiffany.
