William Hodgman (prosecutor)
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{short description|American lawyer and Prosecutor}}
{{Infobox person
| name = William Hodgman
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|12|14}}
| birth_place = La Habra, California, U.S.
| education = University of California, Los Angeles (BA)
University of California, Hastings (JD)
| occupation = Attorney, prosecutor
| years_active = 1978–present
| spouse =
| children = 67
}}
William Hodgman (born December 14, 1952) is an American lawyer and prosecutor. He served as a prosecutor during the O. J. Simpson murder trial, a role in which he gained international attention.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/144963-did-bill-hodgman-really-collapse-during-the-oj-simpson-trial-it-was-a-stressful-case|title=Did Bill Hodgman Really Collapse During The O.J. Simpson Trial? It Was A Stressful Case|website=Bustle|date=March 2016 }} He also served as the Assistant District Attorney for line operations in the Los Angeles District Attorney's office.{{Cite web|url=https://sci.usc.edu/personnel/william-hodgman/|title=William Hodgman:Instructor|publisher=USC|access-date=2020-07-28}}
Early life
Hodgman was born and raised in La Habra, California, a suburban community in southern California. He is the oldest of four children.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-04-05-fi-1036-story.html|title=D.A. Team Overcame Obstacles : Trial: The prosecution's familiarity with judges and the community helped win the conviction|website=Los Angeles Times|date=April 5, 1992 |access-date=2020-07-28}} He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles and then the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1978.{{Cite web |title=William Hodgman |url=https://sci.usc.edu/personnel/william-hodgman-2/ |access-date=2025-05-31 |website=Safe Communities Institute (SCI) |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-04-05-fi-1036-story.html|title=At the Pressure Point|website=People|date=April 5, 1992 |access-date=2020-07-28}}
Career
Upon graduation from law school, Hodgman started his career as a junior prosecutor in the Los Angeles District Attorney's office. He was officially hired by Johnnie Cochran, who was the Assistant District Attorney of Los Angeles, at the time. In 1982, Hodgman left the Los Angeles District Attorney's office to work in private practice at a local law firm. However, after just one year, he returned to the District Attorney's office.
Hodgman was the lead attorney in the prosecution of Charles Keating, who was convicted for fraud.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/01/business/making-a-difference-on-the-spot-at-the-trial-of-keating.html|title=Making a Difference; On the Spot At the Trial of Keating|website=The New York Times|date=September 1991 |access-date=2020-07-28|last1=Stevenson |first1=Richard W. }} As a result of his work, he was awarded with the 1992 Outstanding Prosecutor of the Year by the California District Attorneys Association and the Los Angeles County Association of Deputy District Attorneys.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pursuitoftruthfilm.com/featured/william-hodgman-2/|title=William Hodgman|website=Pursuit of Truth|access-date=2020-07-28}} In 1993, Hodgman led the investigation into the child sexual abuse accusations against Michael Jackson.{{Cite web|url=https://in.finance.yahoo.com/photos/the-o-j-simpson-trial-1356152230182966/bill-hodgman-1454463368361.html|title=The O.J. Simpson Trial: Where Are They Now?|website=Yahoo Entertainment|access-date=2020-07-28}}
Hodgman was assigned to be a co-prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson murder trial and was present during opening statements. However, during a meeting with other prosecutors, he began to suffer from chest pains and collapsed. Hodgman was rushed to the hospital and his condition was attributed to stress from his case. Testing at the hospital also revealed that he had a chronic heart defect.{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2016/04/10/former-da-gil-garcetti-i-never-wanted-marcia-clark-on-oj-trial/|title=Former DA Gil Garcetti: I never wanted Marcia Clark on OJ trial|website=New York Post|date=April 10, 2016 |access-date=2020-07-28}} Hodgman did not return to the O.J. Simpson trial and was replaced by Chris Darden as the co-prosecutor.
Hodgman successfully prosecuted record label owner Suge Knight for a probation violation in 1997.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/34135/suge-knight-gets-9-years|title=Suge Knight Gets 9 Years|website=E!|date=March 1997 |access-date=2020-07-28}}
Hodgman served as the Assistant District Attorney for line operations in the Los Angeles District Attorney's office until 2019 when he retired after 40 years working with the Los Angeles District Attorney's office.{{Cite web|url=https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-crime-story/jury-duty-ep-6-oj-simpson-dDqenb12Ih9/|title= Jury Duty - Ep. 6 - O.J. Simpson Prosecutor, Bill Hodgman|website=The Crime Story Podcast with Kary Antholis|date= January 31, 2020|access-date=2020-07-28}}
In popular culture
Hodgman is played by Christian Clemenson in the 2016 television series The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story.{{cite news|last=Bush|first=Samantha|title=Who are the real people portrayed on ‘The People vs. O.J. Simpson’?|url=https://www.dailynews.com/2016/03/08/who-are-the-real-people-portrayed-on-the-people-vs-oj-simpson/|work=Los Angeles Daily News|date=March 8, 2016|access-date=October 19, 2024}}
Personal life
References
{{Reflist}}
{{O. J. Simpson murder trial}}
{{Authority control}}
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Category:O. J. Simpson murder case
Category:UCLA College of Letters and Science alumni
Category:University of California College of the Law, San Francisco alumni
Category:20th-century American lawyers