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Harvard Prof. Alan Dershowitz: Zimmerman Arrest Affidavit ‘Irresponsible And Unethical’
Mediaite ^ | April 12, 2012 | Noah Rothman

Posted on 04/12/2012 3:51:09 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz appeared on MSNBC’s Hardball where fill-in host Michel Smerconish asked him his opinions of the arrest warrant issued and carried out for alleged Trayvon Martin murderer, George Zimmerman. Dershowitz called the affidavit justifying Zimmerman’s arrest “not only thin, it’s irresponsible.” He went on to criticize the decision to charge Zimmerman for second degree murder by special prosecutor Angela Cory as being politically motivated.

“You’ve seen the affidavit of probable cause. What do you make of it,” Smerconish asked. “It won’t suffice,” Dershowitz replied without hesitation.

“Most affidavits of probable cause are very thin. This is so thin that it won’t make it past a judge on a second degree murder charge,” Dershowitz said. “There’s simply nothing in there that would justify second degree murder.”

Dershowitz said that the elements that would constitute that crime are non-existent in the affidavit. “It’s not only thin, it’s irresponsible,” said Dershowitz.

Dershowitz went on to strongly criticize Cory’s decision to move forward with the case against Zimmerman. “I think what you have here is an elected public official who made a campaign speech last night for reelection when she gave her presentation and overcharged. This case will not – if the evidence is no stronger than what appears in the probable cause affidavit – this case will result in an acquittal.”

Smerconish identified the total lack of any mention of the supposed fight that occurred between Martin and Zimmerman prior to Martin being shot. He said he was disappointed that he did not see any mention of that conflict that led to Martin’s murder.

“But it’s worse than that,” said Dershowitz. “It’s irresponsible and unethical in not including material that favors the defendant.”

“This affidavit does not even make it to probable cause,” Dershowitz concluded. “everything in the affidavit is completely consistent with a defense of self-defense. Everything.”

Watch the segment below via MSNBC:

(VIDEO AT LINK)


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: angelacorey; coreyfong; dershowitz; florida; medialynching; trayvon; trayvonmartin; wow; zimmerman; zimmermanaffidavit
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To: MizSterious

Dershowitz was also one of a few to defend Sarah Palin when she called what the media was doing to her a “Blood libel” he agreed with her.


21 posted on 04/12/2012 4:02:22 PM PDT by Sarah Barracuda
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To: murron

” It depends on the make up of the jury. “

The judge could throw it out.


22 posted on 04/12/2012 4:03:43 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (God, family, country, mom, apple pie, the girl next door and a Ford F250 to pull my boat.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

This is pretty serious. Correct me if I am wrong, but is this the same Dershowitz that defended Bill Clinton’s countless shenanigans and called his prosecutors “evil”? He has to know that this is whole escapade is being staged via and for the White House, which means he knows that Obama is running it — or at least setting the strategy.

In other words, he’s moving into direct opposition to Obama. This could indicate the start of a rift in the Liberal establishment into pro-Obama and pro-traditional-establishment types.

Now, supposing that the rift becomes real, how will Obama react?


23 posted on 04/12/2012 4:04:12 PM PDT by Ronin (Sarah.... We really need you now!)
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To: beebuster2000
Scroll down a little til you see this, then click the arrow lookin' thing:


24 posted on 04/12/2012 4:04:12 PM PDT by tomkat
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To: Ronin

Uh, Professor Dershowitz has a fatal heart attack, same as Andrew Breitbart?


25 posted on 04/12/2012 4:07:05 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (Ich habe keinen Konig aber Gott)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

If this does go to trial, Zimmerman should spend beaucoup time working on his tan... and go into that courtroom as dark as possible.

“Where’s that murdering white bastard Zimmerman?!?”


26 posted on 04/12/2012 4:08:07 PM PDT by Third Person
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
I believe that they are over-charging Zimmerman in the belief that if they can't convict him of the charges, they can bankrupt him from the process. Either way, Zimmerman ends up a ruined man.

-PJ

27 posted on 04/12/2012 4:09:11 PM PDT by Political Junkie Too (If you can vote for President, then your children can run for President.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Hadn’t thought of that, but it would be a very bad time for anyone to try and sell him health insurance, wouldn’t it?


28 posted on 04/12/2012 4:09:34 PM PDT by Ronin (Sarah.... We really need you now!)
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To: MizSterious

Well, he was played by the late great Ron Silver in the movie.


29 posted on 04/12/2012 4:10:30 PM PDT by Argus
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

As much of a jerk Dershowitz is, I’d rather be on his side than on the side of the fake Rev. Al and his merry band of lynch man.


30 posted on 04/12/2012 4:13:28 PM PDT by beandog (Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Seems like Dershowitz is assuming the judge will not be as politically motivated as the D.A. We’ll see.


31 posted on 04/12/2012 4:14:31 PM PDT by Rocky (REPEAL IT!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Did Dershowitz bump his head...?


32 posted on 04/12/2012 4:19:16 PM PDT by Leep (Enemy of the Statist)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

To tell you the truth, I think the demonrats bit on this hate Zimmerman bait so hard, not only because they thought he was white, but he also has a “Jewish” name.

When you read “Afro-American” commentary around the net, the claim that Zimmerman’s dad is Jewish seems to matter a lot to them in the injustice department.


33 posted on 04/12/2012 4:19:19 PM PDT by SaraJohnson
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To: hinckley buzzard
I never thought about this broad being an elected official and running for re-election. Makes all kinds of even more sense now. Put Zimmerman through hell for votes. Right. Why not.

That was what Nifong probably thought as well. Didn't work out so well.

I think that senior Dems would love riots to start over this. Not for the riots, but for the response. Florida is not LA. Florida has over 700,000 CCW holders. A CCW caught in the middle of a violent riot where he sees people getting beaten and sees his family threatened is going to open fire, which is going to produce a chain reaction, and you will see hundreds of dead rioters on the ground. That will be the beginning of martial law.

34 posted on 04/12/2012 4:21:55 PM PDT by PapaBear3625 (In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. - George Orwell)
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To: Sarah Barracuda

Dershowitz is very unusual. He’s actually an ethical leftist...

I have nothing against leftists in general, because those are their positions and in theory they have thought them out and adopted them. We can argue against their points and discuss our different points of view, which is fine.

But the problem with modern US leftism is that reason then drops away and ideology takes over. No discussion is possible, it’s all about power (which is in their hands), and people like Dershowitz end up being footnotes. In fact, when the radical left really takes over after the next election, he’ll probably be dragged out and shot for being not politically correct.

But in the meantime, I’ll pray for him.


35 posted on 04/12/2012 4:24:34 PM PDT by livius
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Dershowitz may be a leftist of the highest order, but I don’t think anyone would accuse him of being a dummy. He recognizes a bogus indictment when he sees one, the fact that he actually chose to go public with his beliefs about it comes as a surprise to me, though.


36 posted on 04/12/2012 4:24:42 PM PDT by gopno1
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To: Persevero

Cory is not of Seminole County, where I vote, she is in Jacksonville/Duval area. “They” snatched it away from local AG. I can only presume he did not march to the beat of “their” drum!


37 posted on 04/12/2012 4:26:31 PM PDT by GOYAKLA (Recall/ Impeachment Day, November 6, 2012. FUBO)
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To: stephenjohnbanker; murron
" It depends on the make up of the jury. "

The judge could throw it out.

1.) Yes it does, but even a sympathetic jury may fear for their lives.

2.) I wouldn't count on any judge doing the right thing with the whole world watching. This incident has been overwhelmed by politically correct politics. I could see it being overturned on appeal, long after the election.

38 posted on 04/12/2012 4:26:43 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (I tried to buy a hoodie today but the store manager said they had all been shoplifted.)
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To: stephenjohnbanker

Was Corey prosecution during the trial when the little girl was killed by her mother? (Casey/Caylee)


39 posted on 04/12/2012 4:27:14 PM PDT by hummingbird (Just askin' or just sayin' depending on the subject at hand.)
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To: Argus

Ron Silver is dead?


40 posted on 04/12/2012 4:32:45 PM PDT by hummingbird (Just askin' or just sayin' depending on the subject at hand.)
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