O.J. Simpson was acquitted in the murder trial of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman on October 3, 1995. The verdict was reached after a highly publicized and controversial trial that lasted over eight months. The jury's decision sparked a nationwide discussion and debate on race, the criminal justice system, and celebrity influence. Despite Simpson's acquittal in the criminal trial, he was later found liable for the deaths in a civil suit and ordered to pay damages to the families of the victims.