Bernarda Villalona News Legal Contributor
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High-profile criminal trials can cost defendants over $1M in legal fees.
Top criminal defense attorneys in New York City charge $500–$1,500+ per hour. A complex federal case averaging 18 months of prep and trial time can easily surpass seven figures — before appeals.
High-profile U.S. trials can cost taxpayers $10M+!
The O.J. Simpson trial cost Los Angeles County roughly $9M in 1995. Adjusted for inflation, that exceeds $19M today — and that's before civil suits, appeals, or the media circus that keeps legal analysts busy for years.
Legal analysts on TV news grew rapidly after O.J. Simpson's 1995 trial.
The O.J. Simpson case drew 150 million viewers and sparked demand for on-air legal experts. Today, legal contributors are staples of every major network. Read more at Wikipedia