Court of public opinion looms large in George Zimmerman murder trial

Chevy57 said:
In Florida in a non-capital case, a jury can be six people. In most states you would need 12 for a criminal case, but not in Florida.

Five Questions About George Zimmerman Case Now That We Have a Verdict - ABC News

Florida court rule? Florida don't need capital case.

Supreme court case determined that 6 jury members is enough to provide good sufficient deliberation. And in the state of Florida, there is a statute that 6 jurors for standard criminal cases, and 12 jurors for capital offenses. Capital offenses meaning charges allowing the death penalty sentence. 2nd degree murder only allows for up to life in prison, thus not capital offense, and only 6 jurors
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I like the 6 juror system. Less chance of a rogue juror screwing up a trial and cheaper as well. Probably makes the jury selection process shorter too.
 
TXgolfer said:
I like the 6 juror system. Less chance of a rogue juror screwing up a trial and cheaper as well. Probably makes the jury selection process shorter too.
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actually other way around.
 
Chevy57 said:
In Florida in a non-capital case, a jury can be six people. In most states you would need 12 for a criminal case, but not in Florida.

Five Questions About George Zimmerman Case Now That We Have a Verdict - ABC News

Florida court rule? Florida don't need capital case.

Supreme court case determined that 6 jury members is enough to provide good sufficient deliberation. And in the state of Florida, there is a statute that 6 jurors for standard criminal cases, and 12 jurors for capital offenses. Capital offenses meaning charges allowing the death penalty sentence. 2nd degree murder only allows for up to life in prison, thus not capital offense, and only 6 jurors
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not surprising.

Florida.... a haven for criminals.
 
Juror: 'No doubt' that Zimmerman feared for his life - CNN.com
She said she believed Zimmerman's "heart was in the right place" the night he killed Martin, but that he didn't use "good judgment" in confronting the Florida teen.

"I think George Zimmerman is a man whose heart was in the right place, but just got displaced by the vandalism in the neighborhoods and wanting to catch these people so badly that he went above and beyond what he really should have done. But I think his heart was in the right place. It just went terribly wrong," she said.

If anything, Zimmerman was guilty of not using "good judgment," the juror said.

"When he was in the car, and he had called 911, he shouldn't have gotten out of that car," she said.

She also said she believes Martin threw the first punch in their confrontation.
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Jiro said:
actually other way around.
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Economic considerations? Six person juries cost less, takes less time on voir dire, reach verdict quicker etc. The judiciary favors smaller verdicts when it comes to enconomic considerations.
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Criminal- If you are the defendant you want more jurors for better chance of controversy, hung jury etc
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Do you want a six person jury or a twelve person jury? | Plaintiff Trial Lawyer Tips

The more jurors on a jury, the better the scenario is for the defense in a criminal case. This is because many criminal cases in federal and state courts require a unanimous vote or a near majority. The more persons there are on a jury, the greater chance of convincing at least one or more jurors that the prosecution does not have a solid case. Since the burden of proof is on the prosecution, the defense simply needs to instill enough doubt in the jurors to break up the jury vote to win.
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Read more: The Pros and Cons of the Jury Size | eHow
 
I learned that Florida jury require unanimous to convict - all of 6 jurors have to agree.

If 5-1 so it is hung jury so judge has to declare the mistrial.
 
Foxrac said:
I learned that Florida jury require unanimous to convict - all of 6 jurors have to agree.

If 5-1 so it is hung jury so judge has to declare the mistrial.
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Exactly. That is fairly common in criminal court.
 
Juror B-37 gave ab interview to Anderson Cooper tonight. I hope the people out there causing trouble are able to see it. This trial really took a toll on jurors. They really wanted to convict GZ of something but the law just didn't allow it. Pretty sure GZ would be in a jail cell right now if Angela Corey wouldn't have overcharged.
 
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TXgolfer said:
Juror B-37 gave ab interview to Anderson Cooper tonight. I hope the people out there causing trouble are able to see it. This trial really took a toll on jurors. They really wanted to convict GZ of something but the law just didn't allow it. Pretty sure GZ would be in a jail cell right now if Angela Corey wouldn't have overcharged.
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Plus she also acted irresponsibly and illegally by withholding evidence from the courts. That's called cheating. When that happens, you know the prosecuting side knew they were in trouble from the beginning in the attempt to convict GZ. She ought to be charged and lose her law license.
 
kokonut said:
Plus she also acted irresponsibly and illegally by withholding evidence from the courts. That's called cheating. When that happens, you know the prosecuting side knew they were in trouble from the beginning in the attempt to convict GZ. She ought to be charged and lose her law license.
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Yeah, I believe she will be disbarred.
 
TXgolfer said:
Yeah, something similar in Missouri and in South Texas. SMH
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At least the victim in that case lived. There was someone right here in Cobb County,GA that was beaten by 4 young African American males as he exited a gas station and was walking to his car. They pushed him out into a 5 lane street and stomped on his head - as he was laying there helpless, a car ran over him and killed him.(this BEFORE the verdict) http://mdjonline.com/view/full_stor...-linked-to-gang-are-accused-in-beating-death?

What the hell is wrong with people?
 
Steinhauer said:
At least the victim in that case lived. There was someone right here in Cobb County,GA that was beaten by 4 young African American males as he exited a gas station and was walking to his car. They pushed him out into a 5 lane street and stomped on his head - as he was laying there helpless, a car ran over him and killed him.(this BEFORE the verdict) The Marietta Daily Journal - Mableton teens linked to gang are accused in beating death

What the hell is wrong with people?
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Craziness. And it is probably going to get much worse over the next 2-3 years...
 
Zimmerman protesters raid LA store, stop freeway

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Protesters ran through Los Angeles streets Monday night, breaking windows, attacking people on sidewalks and at one point raiding a Wal-Mart store, while others blocked a major freeway in the San Francisco Bay Area in the third night of demonstrations in California over George Zimmerman's Florida acquittal in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.

Thirteen people were arrested after multiple acts of vandalism and several assaults in Los Angeles' Crenshaw District, Mayor Eric Garcetti and Police Chief Charlie Beck said at a news conference.

Garcetti and Beck didn't elaborate on the assaults or any injuries, but at least one man could be seen in the street with a head injury.

More than 300 officers were called to the scene and were at first slow to directly engage protesters in an attempt to allow a peaceful end to the demonstration, Beck said. But the chief said police would take a much stricter posture in the coming nights.

"This will not be allowed to continue," Beck said.

Several hundred mostly peaceful protesters gathered Monday night at Leimert Park southwest of downtown LA, many of them chanting, praying and singing.

But a smaller group of between 100 and 150 people splintered off and began blocking traffic on nearby Crenshaw Boulevard, some of them jumping on cars and breaking windows at liquor stores and fast food outlets.

Several protesters ran into a Wal-Mart store, where they knocked down displays before store security chased them out, and police began guarding the door.

Tonya Williams was shopping with her daughter when the protesters burst in and security briefly locked down the store.

"We thought we were going to be stuck in there," Williams said. "We saw the merchandise all thrown around. They had pulled the rack down, and there was merchandise all over the floor."

TV news helicopters showed some people kicking and punching others along the street, including two people sitting on a bus bench.

Police declared the gathering an unlawful assembly about three hours after it began, and most of the crowd left the street.

Garcetti, who returned early from an East Coast trip because of the demonstrations, praised the "overwhelming majority" who protested peacefully.

"We are a better city than what we have seen tonight in the hands of a few people," the mayor said.

In Oakland, dozens of demonstrators briefly blocked all lanes of Interstate 880 at the tail end of rush hour, stopping traffic in both directions for several minutes before lanes were cleared by authorities. Several protesters laid their bicycles on the ground in front of stopped cars.

"You've got to go. You will go to jail," one police officer shouted at demonstrators who were blocking traffic, the Oakland Tribune reported. However, police decided not to make arrests as the marchers, chanting "Justice for Trayvon Martin," were directed back to surface streets.

Later, another group tried to march up the onramp to Interstate 580 before being turned away by Oakland police and California Highway Patrol officers.

The freeway protesters broke off from a larger group organized via social media that gathered at Oakland City Hall about an hour earlier.

More than a half-dozen people were arrested on charges of vandalism and assault, both felony and misdemeanor, Oakland police spokeswoman Johnna Watson said.

Over the weekend, demonstrators in Oakland and Los Angeles blocked traffic and clashed with police in protests over a Florida jury's acquittal of neighborhood watch volunteer Zimmerman in the shooting death of the unarmed black teenager.

Police shot beanbag rounds and arrested six people — including one on suspicion of assaulting an officer — while breaking up relatively small demonstrations before dawn.

No injuries were reported to either demonstrators or officers.

Most demonstrations around the state were peaceful.

Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer sent a letter Monday to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder supporting the Justice Department decision to review the case to determine whether Martin's civil rights were violated.

"I respect the fact that the jury has spoken ... but I don't think this should be the last word," Boxer wrote in the letter.

Zimmerman protesters raid LA store, stop freeway
 
VacationGuy234 said:
Really? What makes you think it will get worse?

As a sarcastic optimist, I always have high hopes for the future.
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Impossible to discuss within the constraints of AD. But suffice to say that nothing has changed in the last few years that would make the future brighter.
 
Steinhauer said:
At least the victim in that case lived. There was someone right here in Cobb County,GA that was beaten by 4 young African American males as he exited a gas station and was walking to his car. They pushed him out into a 5 lane street and stomped on his head - as he was laying there helpless, a car ran over him and killed him.(this BEFORE the verdict) The Marietta Daily Journal - Mableton teens linked to gang are accused in beating death

What the hell is wrong with people?
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WTF ! GZ was stalking TM . Yeah that is what I would like to know too, just what the hell is wrong with you?
 
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