OJ Simpson is back in court this week, trying to prove to a judge that his former attorney, Yale Galanter, gave him shoddy legal advice which resulted in his 9-33 year prison sentence.
The former football star, who was acquitted of his wife’s murder 12 years before being convicted of robbing two sports memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in a Las Vegas hotel room in 2007, will testify on his own behalf this week to explain how Galanter allegedly led him to get convicted in 2008.
According to NBCNews, a judge approved his new lawyers’ request that one of his hands be free from shackles so he can take notes and drink water. This will mark the first time Simpson testifies on his own behalf in a criminal case, as he has done it for his civil case in 1995.
Laurie Levenson, a Loyola University law professor, simply says “he has to.” She was a commentator during his trial in 1995 and has overseen his Las Vegas trial.
“He's making certain allegations about communications with his lawyer, and why he did and did not do things, and that he didn't get a plea offer, and that he thought it was OK to go to the hotel room and do these things,” she said, adding, "If he wants to succeed on his petition, he has to do it."
Fox News reports Simpson’s task will be to convince Clark County District Judge Linda Marie Bell that Galanter had conflict of interest and gave him the wrong legal advice. Simpson will testify Wednesday and Galanter will testify on Friday.