O.J. Simpson probably hopes that he still has the “Juice” as he approaches his parole hearing set for sometime in July. NBC News announced Monday (May 22) that the former idolized football player will be receiving the actual date for his hearing mid-June, which means a world with a possibly free Orenthal James Simpson by October 2017.
Although the former Buffalo Bills running back was found not-guilty in the “trial of the century” involving the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown and her friend, Ron Goldman, the Goldman family filed a civil lawsuit against Simpson in 1996. The role of the media played a major part in the criminal case, so Judge Hiroshi Fujisaki banned television and still cameras, radio equipment and courtroom sketch artists. Simpson was found liable for the wrongful death and battery of Ron Goldman and battery of Nicole Brown, being ordered to pay $33.5 million in damages.
The charges in which Simpson is currently imprisoned and eligible for parole for include two kidnapping, two robberies and a burglary with a firearm, along with seven other charges. The incident in question involves an armed heist in which Simpson “stole” memorabilia in which he claims was initially taken from his possession. Simpson has been in jail since 2008, carrying out a 33 year-long sentence with a minimum of nine years without parole.
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According to Laurie Levenson, a Loyola Law School professor, it’s possible that Simpson will be granted parole at his pending July hearing because “previously, they have ranked him as low-risk.” He was denied parole in 2013, and if denied again in July, his next chance will be in 2020 when he is 73 years old.
The Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners will have the options to either “grant release on parole, deny parole at this time and reconsider O.J. for parole at a later date, or deny parole and require O.J. to serve the remainder of his final sentence.”
The former Chairman of the Board stated, “The board members are intelligent professionals and I am confident they will arrive at a very carefully considered decision.”