Posted on 07/13/2013 4:52:03 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Lawyers and media go into full "what does it mean" mode when during deliberations the jury sends out a question. The lawyers' legs turn to noodles while they wait for the Judge to read the question(s) posed. (A lot can be speculated by jurors' questions.)
The process goes something like this:
- Jurors agree on the question. They write it on to a piece of paper. (No e-mail, texts, or electronic means used to communicate the question.)
- A juror hands it to the deputy / bailiff posted at the jury room door.
- The bailiff walks it to the judge who reads it.
- BY LAW, counsel on both sides must be notified and summoned to court that "the jury has a question."
- After counsel arrive in court the Judge reads the question, on the record.
- The Judge and counsel then discuss a response, how the Judge answer the question.
- The Judge send the jury a written answer, provide the jury what they asked for (a paper document), or even a refusal by the Judge to answer the question.
The question this jury had, two hours into deliberations, you can listen in the video, but it was something like:
"Is there an inventory list of what is in evidence?"
It appears that everyone agreed to provide that to the jury.
What does THAT question mean? Hell, I dunno. My best guesses:
- Asking for an "exhibits list" of ADMITTED evidence two hours into deliberations could mean anything.
1. The jury has reached a verdict and they want a list to make sure they did not miss anything.
or
2. They are NOT near a verdict and thought it would be handy to have an exhibits list to refer to while they deliberate.
or
3. They could be NEAR a verdict, but want to continue to deliberate and want an exhibits list simply because they are being careful. They want to consider all charges and evidence.
or
4. They are near a verdict, but are worried about having targets on their backs, or being responsible for riots (with a not guilty verdict) so they want to appear to have thought long and hard about the verdict.
Note: IMO 3.5 is not that long to deliberate on a two to three week trial (or longer if you include the voir dire process).
I find it very, very interesting that the jury would NOT simply soldier on past 6:00 p.m. This tells me that they were NOT close to reaching a verdict. If they were, they would have stayed past 6:00 p.m. to wrap things up.
This also tells me that the jury is taking their charge (job) very seriously. Many juries would have wanted to reach a verdict simply because they wanted to go home by the weekend, especially if the jury is sequestered like this one.
Regardless of what WE think, George Zimmerman, his counsel, and the prosecution team won't be getting much, if any, sleep tonight.
Thank you for posting the video.
It should be pretty simple, but someone is eaten up with white guilt.
Evidence? What evidence?
To summarize, we don’t know what it meant.
Exactly. I’ve been taken to the woodshed on here for saying white females have been the biggest turncoats and destroyers of our culture. I’m a white female and have to deal with sisters, mom, aunts, and some of them who vote R, yet still would convict.
Look for a manslaughter conviction just because these women need to vindicate a poor dead “child”.. mark my words.
They may also be slightly relieved that the jury didn't slam dunk second degree murder. If that's any consolation. Manslaughter and third degree also carry significant time in prison.
I am a conservative woman and I have been treated abysmally because women are supposed to be liberals
Months later, a white male jurist gave an interview with a local talk radio guy and he was very despondent over his vote of guilty. He was the only one who was trying to hold on to a not-guilty vote but the intense pressure and bullying by the other jury members finally beat him down........
“I find it very, very interesting that the jury would NOT simply soldier on past 6:00 p.m. This tells me that they were NOT close to reaching a verdict. If they were, they would have stayed past 6:00 p.m. to wrap things up. “
This was my exact thought. They were at an impasse with no end in sight for the night. So start over tomorrow.
But others had interesting theories..such as they had decided but didn’t want to be leaving for their homes in the evening hours, etc.
I am hoping that at least one will hold out for a Hung Jury if they can’t get an acquittal.
“Breaking News”........Jury will reconvene in 48 minutes.......
I hope you are wrong, but I suspect you are right.
These women are frightened o say “Not Guilty”
I never heard of a jury of 6 women before, what was the defense thinking to agree to that?
This decision should have taken about an hour at most.
Not Guilty.
No they carry the SAME sentence.
And it is up to the Judge.
10-20-Life rule
If 3rd degree with child abuse had been found he could go into prison for life. West did a double take when the Judge told him it applied.
She had been looking like she was going to let that in before lunch but after lunch she ruled it out.
OR, they realize racial tensions may be high for an expected verdict and this appears to show they are considering it all to show wise judgement.
Exactly what it means AppyPappy!
I find it amusing that some people say with a straight face that Edward Snowden should have used “legal channels”.
In this case, the government has done more railroading than CSX and Zimmerman is INNOCENT!
Government has become the enemy of the people; this case is Exhibit A of that. When thugs are given protections to kill people by Fedgov, then we have lost our country. That is where we now stand.
“Is there an inventory list …”?
This question is indicative that some fishing is going on for skittles background. His background will indicate that G Z was not dealing with an innocent child. Obozo, doj, race baiters, and the shame street media want skittle to still be their son????
GO FIGURE
I was stunned and frankly in disbelief to find out: 1. Only six on the jury, and 2. All women.
My wife and I went “what the hell?”
A jury of your peers all women in a man to man fight with a self defense issue. It’s just crazy.
If it were twelve with a mixed of men and women I would be very confident, but a little worried at the moment.
My hope is that the writer of this article missed another good theory which was my first thought.
They wanted to appear to have axhaustively deliberated, but ALSO deflate the news media (just a little) and mitigate the riots by doing it on a weekend morning. My understanding was that they would be back early today to continue deliberations.
My theory is the jurors want to have a timeline so that they can determine who was the aggressor in the situation and to be more clear on the facts of the struggle -
I pray these jurors do the right thing and vote according to the facts and not emotion. I’m female,but quite able to look at the evidence and put all emotion aside. I think I’d make a great juror.
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