Shapiro To Take Backseat In Simpson Murder Trial Johnnie Cochran, F. Lee Bailey Will Take On Expanded Duties

O.J. Simpson’s all-star legal defense team emerged from a tense jailhouse session Monday with a new lineup.

As reported in the Daily News Monday, under the revised set of positions, lead lawyer Robert Shapiro will take a backseat to Johnnie Cochran, who will handle the bulk of the courtroom arguments. And legal whiz F. Lee Bailey is set to become a key courtroom player.

The changes came as defense lawyers met with Simpson, who is accused of fatally stabbing his exwife and her friend last June 12.

After the three-hour meeting, Shapiro insisted he was “still in charge” of the defense team - but wouldn’t discuss his courtroom duties.

“I’ll make that determination in the best interest of my client,” said a seemingly rattled Shapiro, without elaboration.

Cochran also dodged the issue, but suggested that Bailey would be a courtroom presence at the gridiron star’s upcoming double murder trial.

“There’s enough work for everyone, there’s plenty to do,” he said. “I think you’ll see an increased role for Mr. F. Lee Bailey, but you’ll see all of us working together as a team.”

Bailey would only say: “I was asked to do a job at the outset and that hasn’t changed.”

Sources told The News that future defense powwows would be shifted from Shapiro’s elegant Century City offices to Cochran’s digs near downtown Los Angeles.