In 1995, while the farcical OJ Simpson "Trial of the Century" took place in one Los Angeles Courtroom, across the hall in another courtroom, Heidi Fleiss- accused madam- was also on trial. I attended Heidi's trial with "Mayflower Madam" Sydney Biddle Barrows. Sydney and I had both been ravaged by the legal system and we were, in part, attending Heidi's trial to show support for one of our 'peers' who was getting shafted by the LAPD and our district attorney.

The circus-like atmosphere in the hallways of the Court House underscored the miscarriage of justice that was about to happen. OJ Simpson, who at the very least had violently abused his wife Nicole prior to her death and whom the police had been most reluctant to arrest and prosecute for spousal abuse, was acquitted of the murder of Nicole and her friend Ron Goldman. On the other hand, Heidi Fleiss,whose 'crime' was that she arranged for men to meet women, have sex and then pay the women LOTS of money which was a mutually agreeable arrangement on all sides, was convicted of a felony and now faced a MANDATORY sentence of three to six years in prison (As I, too, had been convicted and sentenced in this same courthouse in 1987). Where is the justice in this? Perhaps someone could explain how society benefitted from the prosecution of Heidi, Sydney and me? Is society safer because Heidi Fleiss and I were locked up behind bars, while wife-beater OJ smiles and plays golf?

I created this chess set as my commentary on the "American (in) Justice System." The players in the trial, including members of the media, helped to turn the justice system into a game. Going to court is no longer about right and wrong- truth or facts. Our courts are a laughingstock because our laws against 'victimless crimes' are enforced with such vigor and carry such draconian punishment while serious, violent crimes where there is a victim are treated as though the victims are at fault! When prostitutes are found murdered, the police unofficially refer to these homicides as "NHI's"- meaning 'No Humans Involved.' Since Nicole was rumored to 'hang out' with prostitutes, do you suppose they treated her abuse and subsequent murder with the same disdain?

The Players: For the Prosecution (Silver) King Judge Lance Ito Queen Marcia Clark Rook 1 Chris Darden Rook 2 Mark Fuhrman Bishop 1 Denise Brown Bishop 2 Detective Philip Vanatter Knight 1 Ron Goldman Knight 2 Faye Resnick Pawn 1 Dominick Dunne Pawn 2 Geraldo Rivera Pawn 3 Jay Leno Pawn 4 Det. Gregory Matheson Pawn 5 D.A. Gil Garcetti Pawn 6 News Reporter Tracy Savage Pawn 7 Ex O.J. juror (male) Pawn 8 Fredric Rieders (forensic evidence)

For the Defense (Gold) King O.J. Simpson Queen Nicole Brown Simpson Rook 1 Johnnie Cochran Rook 2 Robert Shapiro Bishop 1 Att. Robert Blasier Bishop 2 Kato Kaelin Knight 1 Rosa Lopez Knight 2 F. Lee Bailey Pawn 1 Al Cowlings Pawn 2 Larry King Pawn 3 Barry Scheck Pawn 4 O.J.'s mom Eunice Pawn 5 Paula Barbieri Pawn 6 O.J.'s daughter Arnelle Pawn 7 Ex O.J. juror Pawn 8 Marcus Allen