I’ve always thought that keeping out evidence of Trayvon Martin’s fighting was the huge appellate issue elephant in the room.
The Judge was saying any 7 year old could have been using TM’s password protected phone to send out thousands of texts and photos about fighting???
Could have been someone else using the phone HE spent all day and night on that day, right up until the moment he started another fight???
The phantom 7 year old.
She probably had to go to the restroom.
If nothing else, the defense is setting up the ground work for an appeal in the event that Zimmerman is convicted.
I can understand the judge needing to call a halt to these motions due to the late hour, but I really think she should have said something to the effect that she’d take up these legal issues in the morning when court convenes.
By continually squelching the defense, she opens the door for a successful appeal should that need arise. Sometimes such a thing can even be a strategy which ends up helping the defendant later. I don’t think that’s the case here because she seems to have consistently been on the side of the state whereas she’s supposed to be impartial.
The fact that she denied the defense the opportunity to investigate the validity of the texts is suspect.
Rather than crying to the judge about how tired they are, they need to hire some folks to take up some tasks thereby reducing the burdens they have.
And I DO think that the judge should have reprimanded the prosecutor for withholding evidence like that. AND, she should give some apparently much needed time to the defense to investigate.
State trials cost money too, and it sure would be a waste of the tax payer’s dollar to have to retry the case, because things were done in a prejudicial manner.
It’s ALWAYS a good practice (at high profile trials especially) to make sure that the defendant’s rights are fully protected because it saves a whole lot of time and work, later (ie mistrials and appeals).
I’ve been to capitol murder cases where the defendant was as protected as could be..in a very righteous and fair manner...and the prosecutor won his case!
It pissed off the victim families, but when those appeals came around, the excuses by the defense just didn’t hold water.
How ironic that there is a placard in the courtroom saying something about a search for the truth.
They can blackmail John Roberts, who says they can’t wave a carrot in front of Judge Nelson? Zimmerman convicted, Nelson nominated to federal court.
The domestic terrorist threat from the black community looms large over the courtroom, with a frightened all-female platoon of front line soldiers about to turn their backs and run from the rule of law in this case.
@RichardHornsby: For those listening, Don West’s comments about physically unable to proceed are grounds for reversal.
@RichardHornsby: “Exhausting counsel by such [long] proceedings deprives the party of the right to have a lawyer’s skillful service.” http://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=7786990683930831051
@RichardHornsby: Ferrer v. State, becomes a violation of due process for a judge to overwork a defendant’s attorney: http://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=7786990683930831051
WTF?
She wants to force a mistrial to bail out the prosecution. Can the defense refuse one?
Astounding. Railroad proceeding as pre-determined.
Just finished reading this entire thread.
I think you will see a big demonstration down there. Will it extend to your area?
Extra people having a conference in Orlando is news I had not heard. Was this all a set up? Is that the schedule that the judge is trying to keep?
The storm approaching might be a real heavy rainfall on their parade!
Be sure to post as things come closer to a jury decision down there.
IMA RIOT IF GZ IS CONVICTED!
Thanks for posting this. I watched the trial all day except when they broke away about the time of the discussion about the texts of local coverage. Gosh, the defense team surely had a reason to be upset since the state and this judge have been helping one another all of the way through this. This judge is for the state. Zimmerman is being railroaded. She didn’t need to become ill with the defense even while the defendant is sitting in the courtroom. Bad behavior and leaning to an injustice. Hoping those jurors find him not guilty.
bttt
10 o'clock. The Rachel Maddow show was coming on in the judge lounge.
She got upset when West pointed out Z was guaranteed a fair trial by both Fl law and the constitution. Guess he hit a nerve !
Wow. That’s bullsh*t.
I mean, really. This judge certainly seems to have it in for the defense.
That is just... wow.