O J SIMPSON stays in jail. What a dumb movee to get himself jailed for nothing! O J never was the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Nevada Supreme Court denies Simpson appeal, overturns co-defendant's conviction

It was a contrast in emotions for two defense attorneys Friday after the Nevada Supreme Court handed down decisions in the O.J. Simpson robbery case.

The high court rejected Simpson's appeal of his armed robbery and kidnapping convictions stemming from the 2007 Las Vegas hotel room heist of two sports memorabilia dealers at gunpoint.

The court on Friday overturned his co-defendant's conviction stating that Clarence J. Stewart was not afforded a fair trial because of "the spill-over prejudice from Simpson's notoriety."

Simpson's attorney, Miami defense attorney Yale Galanter, said he was "extremely disappointed," but the court's decision "was not unexpected."

Galanter said this was "the first in a long line of appeals." Galanter said he will next appeal Simpson's case to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Galanter said Simpson was doing "OK" the last time he spoke to him. "I'm sure he's going to be very upset" by the court's decision, Galanter said.

Meanwhile, Stewart's attorney, Brent Bryson, was ecstatic.

"I am so happy for Mr. Stewart. Finally some judges with intelligence did the right thing. For him (Stewart) to have been tried next to O.J. Simpson, and not to have the opportunity to try his case on his own, would have gone down as one of the most severe travesties in the history of American jurisprudence," Bryson said.

Stewart, a golf buddy of Simpson, got caught up in "some stuff" he didn't fully understand, Bryson said.

Bryson said he will try and get Stewart released on his own recognizance as soon as possible pending a new trial.

"I can't wait to give him a big fat hug," Bryson said.

Clark County District Attorney David Roger said he'd be open to negotiations with Stewart. "Mr. Stewart was unwilling to plead guilty before. Hopefully we can resolve the case after he spent two years in prison," Roger said.

The county's top prosecutor added his office will continue to "vigorously oppose any appeal Mr. Simpson" puts forth.

Simpson, 63, a former college and professional football star, continues to serve a nine- to 33-year prison sentence at Lovelock Correctional Center, a medium-security facility about 90 miles northeast of Reno, according to the Nevada Department of Corrections.

Stewart, 56, who received a slightly shorter sentence -- 7½ to 27 years -- is serving his time at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City.

Both men were convicted in October 2008 of kidnapping, armed robbery, conspiracy and other crimes for what Simpson maintained was an attempt to retrieve family photos and mementos.

FRANCIS MCCABE
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL