Nine Months with Darryl Exum

Rafe Foreman interviews Darryl Exum about a brutal, nine-month criminal trial in Riverside—a four-defendant gang double-murder case involving identical twins—that tested every trial skill in the book. Darryl recounts two trials (after a mistrial tied to a covert informant dispute), how TLC methods—rigorous voir dire, careful cross-examination, storytelling and putting jurors in the room—helped peel back unreliable police testimony and shaky forensic claims. He also talks honestly about the personal toll of long trials, the importance of “letting the village in” (trusted colleagues and community support), using AI as a drafting tool, and prioritizing health. The jury ultimately refused to convict on the principal counts, showing how relentless preparation, human connection, and ethical advocacy can prevail.