Robert Shapiro quotes from American Crime Story

Robert Shapiro

Any time that I take on a new criminal case, I always ask the client a question. Now, I won’t be judgmental, but I think it’s crucial that the attorney and the client are truthful with each other. So anything you tell me is completely confidential, and will never leave this room. So… O.J… Did you do it?

O.J. Simpson

No. [pause] I loved her.

Robert Shapiro

[watching TV coverage of OJ fleeing from custody] I don't like the subtext of this one bit. There's an unspoken villain here.

Robert Kardashian

Who, A.C.?

Robert Shapiro

Hm? No. Me! Everyone's blaming me for everything! I have a very clean reputation. What we need is our own press conference.

So, then, the first week culminates with Simpson deciding to make a run for it, while under your supervision…

Robert Shapiro

Careful.

… Leaving behind a letter that sounds like an admission of guilt, that you guys, for some mistifying reason, read aloud on television…

Robert Kardashian

Bob thought it was a good idea.

Robert Shapiro

No, no, no, wait. Why did you say that? You don’t know what it was like that day. You weren’t there.

Robert Shapiro

Oh, you are here to judge. What was that? What was all that?

Bob, you have to move fast. Your client, his goodwill, all of his popularity and accomplishments, it’s a depreciating asset.

F. Lee Bailey

What do you mean?

Right now, he’s sort of like this handsome, gifted Greek God laid low. It’s a tragedy. But he’s still a Greek God. The longer he sits in that cell, the more the public see him in a jumpsuit and cuffs, the more mortal he becomes. That’s the clock we’re fighting.

Robert Shapiro

So let’s hit the ground running. Okay, first question. Who thinks O.J. did it? [Everybody freezes and looks at him in shocked disbelief.] Me neither.

F. Lee Bailey

Uh, thank you, Bob. Why don’t we talk big picture strategy? I’d say our priority at this juncture is the jury.

Yes. We know we have a downtown jury, which means a heavy concentration of African Americans.

Johnnie Cochran

Indeed. Black men obviously are our allies. Mr. Simpson, a hero in the community. And I’m confident that people will assume he couldn’t have committed such a ghastly crime. But black women, on the other hand, might be a problem. They don’t like their men marrying white girls.

Robert Kardashian

Is that true?

Carl E. Douglas

Why’re you looking at me?

Robert Kardashian

[embarrassed] Well, I…

Johnnie Cochran

But I believe the generalization is accurate. Black women resent successful black men marrying outside the community. We need to limit that group.

Robert Shapiro

That analysis is smart. The prosecution thinks they have the upper hand, but they don’t. Because we have you. And you know how these people think.

Johnnie Cochran

“These people?” Bob, let me give you a helpful piece of advice. On this case, you need to choose your vernacular very, very carefully.

Robert Shapiro

[raising his palms] Mea culpa.

F. Lee Bailey

[On Larry King] Oh, Bob Shapiro is the lead attorney, make no mistake. All that sniping in the media that says Bob Shapiro is in over his head, Bob Shapiro is an empty suit, Bob Shapiro can’t handle a case of this magnitude – well that twaddle is truly unfortunate

Robert Shapiro

Well, then don’t say it, asshole! Fuck!

Johnnie Cochran

Gotta wait for this judge to get a “comprehensive understanding.” How long? Things cannot be left to whim.

Robert Shapiro

Cochran, you have to trust the system.

Johnnie Cochran

We need to turn up the pressure.

Robert Shapiro

[losing his temper, he rounds on him] PRESSURE!? YOU WANNA TURN UP THE PRESSURE!? THIS CITY IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE! WE HAVE ENOUGH PRESSURE!

I told you not to use Fuhrman! Now how many times did I say it? “He’s damaged goods,” I mean, I said it, and I said it, but you just didn’t take me seriously. You know, you put me on this trial because you wanted a black face, but the truth is, you never wanted a black voice.