Gerald Uelmen

{{short description|American attorney}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Gerald F. Uelmen

| image = Simpson case with Gerald Uelman.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Uelmen in O.J. Simpson civil case

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1940|10|8}}{{Cite web|url=https://law.scu.edu/site/gerald-uelmen/curriculum-vitae/|title=Gerald Uelmen - Curriculum Vitae|website=Santa Clara Law|accessdate=28 October 2021}}

| birth_place = Greendale, Wisconsin, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| other_names =

| occupation = Attorney, writer, civil servant, academic

| alma_mater = Loyola Marymount University (BA)
Georgetown University (JD, LLM)

| years_active =

| known_for = being a defense attorney on the O. J. Simpson murder case

| notable_works =

}}

Gerald F. Uelmen (born October 8, 1940) is an American attorney, writer, civil servant, and academic. He was part of O. J. Simpson's defense team during his trial, dubbed the "Dream Team."{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-newton-oj-simpson-miniseries-20160207-story.html|title=Why 'The People v. O.J. Simpson' should be required watching for America's police chiefs|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=5 February 2016|access-date=2016-04-25}} Uelmen says he devised the memorable line used by Johnnie Cochran in the closing argument, "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit."{{cite news|url=http://www.law.com/sites/almstaff/2016/04/05/lawyer-behind-if-it-doesnt-fit-thinks-miniseries-full-of-s/?slreturn=20160306225612#ixzz453vg6Ktz1|title=Lawyer Behind 'If It Doesn't Fit' Thinks O.J. Miniseries Full of S***|author=Ginny LaRoe|website=Law.com|date=April 5, 2016}}

Uelmen is currently a professor at the Santa Clara University School of Law, where he served as dean from 1986 to 1994.{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/oj/interviews/uelmen.html |title=Interviews - Gerald Uelmen | The O.j. Verdict | FRONTLINE |website=Pbs.org|date= 4 October 2005|access-date=2018-04-22}} He served as defense counsel in the trials of Daniel Ellsberg and Christian Brando.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ccfaj.org/m-GeraldUelmen.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-03-30 |archive-date=2016-05-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511225358/http://www.ccfaj.org/m-GeraldUelmen.html |url-status=dead }}

In 2006, he was appointed executive director for the California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice, created by the California State Senate to examine the causes of wrongful convictions and propose reforms of the California criminal justice system.{{cite web|last=Uelmen |first=Gerald |url=http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-ed/soapbox/article4533671.html |title=California's death penalty remains a 'hollow promise' |website=Sacbee.com |date=2014-12-20 |access-date=2018-04-22}}[https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerald-uelmen-5b503817] {{dead link|date=October 2021}}