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Parkland shooting trial: Judge lashes out at defense lawyers after they rested their case
Fox News ^ | September 14,2022 | Rebecca Rosenberg

Posted on 09/14/2022 12:14:59 PM PDT by Hojczyk

At this time, the defense rests," Melisa McNeill declared.

"We're not playing chess," said Broward County (Florida) Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer, visibly annoyed. "This is the most uncalled for, unprofessional way to try the case."

The court had expected 40 more defense witnesses to take the stand when McNeill made the unexpected announcement. Because of the lack of advance warning, prosecutors had not prepared rebuttal witnesses, and the jurors would have to be sent home.

I honestly have never experienced [this] level of unprofessionalism in my career. It's, it's unbelievable," the judge fumed. When McNeill tried to defend herself on the record, Scherer shut her down.

"I don't want to hear it, I don't want hear it," Scherer scolded. "You've been insulting me the entire trial, blatantly taking your headphones off, arguing with me, storming out, coming late intentionally if you don't like my rulings."

The trial will resume Sept. 27 with the state's rebuttal case, which is expected to take about a week.

Cruz pleaded guilty last year to 17 counts of first-degree murder for the Feb. 14, 2018, massacre of students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: banglist; education; florida; parkland; trial; zangara; zangaras
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To: Boogieman
I suppose. Or sometimes you do it if you have no case and are trying to provoke a mistrial.

Bing! And if he delivered that scolding in front of the jury, I'd say the have their mistrial.

21 posted on 09/14/2022 1:02:39 PM PDT by NonValueAdded ("There should have been an age and risk stratification approach." still true)
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To: BenLurkin
Did he get offered a plea deal? Because if so he should have taken it. <<<

I hope it was Death by firing squad...hanging ... or lethal injesction....You pick!! ...

22 posted on 09/14/2022 1:23:56 PM PDT by M-cubed (The MSM is now the 4th Branch of Government.....)
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To: Little Ray
But it’s not his fault he committed mass murder. His mother drank while carrying him.

Listening to his sister testify about the mother and what it did to her life as well as other testimony and evidence, it is clear that this perpetrator ain't right in the head. Does it excuse anything? Nope. Should it get him life instead of the death penalty? Perhaps.

On the other hand, the judge shouldn't be so butt-hurt.

23 posted on 09/14/2022 1:35:08 PM PDT by The Iceman Cometh (F*ck Joe Biden!)
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To: Presbyterian Reporter

Likely looking to force a deal by wearing down the prosecution. This is the epitome of “zeal within the bounds of the law”. Sounds a little like a cat fight between the female defense counsel and the female judge.


24 posted on 09/14/2022 2:22:57 PM PDT by jagusafr ( )
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To: thegagline

“You’ve been insulting me the entire trial, blatantly taking your headphones off, arguing with me, storming out, coming late intentionally if you don’t like my rulings.”

The judge lost her authority when she made it about herself. She should have started the “I will hold you in contempt” trail with the first “insult”. I usually give two chances and then a stern talkin’-to, then off to contemptville we go.


25 posted on 09/14/2022 2:25:39 PM PDT by jagusafr ( )
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To: kiryandil
Guiseppe Zangara took shots at Franklin Roosevelt on February 15, 1933. One bullet hit Anton Cermak, and Cermak died within 2 weeks. Cermak was the Mayor of Chicago.

Zangara was executed March 20, 1933, which was 33 days after he pulled the trigger.

All American shooting victims deserve the level and speed of justice that politicians get.

And the time a convicted death row person spends on death row should be measured in Zangaras, not calendar years.

26 posted on 09/14/2022 2:39:04 PM PDT by Bernard (“the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God." JFK 1-20-61)
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To: Bernard

I’m liking the new Zangara measurement unit.


27 posted on 09/14/2022 3:01:08 PM PDT by kiryandil (China Joe and Paycheck Hunter - the Chink in America's defenses)
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To: kiryandil

acts like this should be given asset amount of time when te clock runs out its to the hangman


28 posted on 09/14/2022 3:13:24 PM PDT by ronnie raygun
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To: BenLurkin

If defense feels like they made their point then why would they call more witnesses?
Every witness you call entitles the prosecution to call a rebuttal witness.


29 posted on 09/14/2022 3:13:46 PM PDT by Do_Tar (It took all my interest just to post this.)
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To: Hojczyk; All

With the judge now on record complaining about a wacked legal defense, it seems to me grounds for mistrial, or a stronger appellate case.

As such, maybe unethical, but not without pre thought.

This isn’t as corrupt, fraudulent, and treasonous as the Durham/Obama/Biden coverup by a very long shot.


30 posted on 09/14/2022 3:18:23 PM PDT by patriotfury ((May the fleas of a thousand camels occupy mo' ham mads tents!) )
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To: Hojczyk

31 posted on 09/14/2022 3:22:34 PM PDT by Bratch
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To: kiryandil
Remember, it's all about the lawyers. How much fame and notoriety they can get, and how much money they can suck out of the system.

Most all the money made in crime is not made by the criminal, it's made the lawyers.. The More lawyers you have, the more crime you'll get..

32 posted on 09/14/2022 3:25:26 PM PDT by unread ("It's not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what's required." W. Churchill.)
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To: NonValueAdded

“””Bing! And if he delivered that scolding in front of the jury, I’d say the have their mistrial.”””


As you probably do not live in Florida, here are a couple of facts.
1. The Judge is a she, not a he.
2. The jury was not present when she scolded the Defense Attornies.


33 posted on 09/14/2022 3:27:13 PM PDT by Presbyterian Reporter
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To: Bernard

“””And the time a convicted death row person spends on death row should be measured in Zangaras, not calendar years.”””


I fully agree. When there is absolutely no question the person committed a capital offense, they should be given 7 days to get their affairs in order and then are executed.

That will give future criminals something to think about.


34 posted on 09/14/2022 3:30:58 PM PDT by Presbyterian Reporter
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To: RockyTx
"perhaps the defense lawyer wants to move on to another case"

We're talking Florida, perfect weather most of the time, golf is very big down there I hear, middle of the week, TEE-Times must have opened up.

35 posted on 09/14/2022 3:38:44 PM PDT by Stanwood_Dave ("Testilying." Cop's lie, only while testifying, as taught in their respected Police Academy(s). )
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To: The Iceman Cometh

When you have a confessed mass murderer and there can be no doubt of his guilt, then I am not big on letting off with life. As we have seen in other states, life ain’t necessarily “life.”


36 posted on 09/15/2022 6:52:32 AM PDT by Little Ray (Civilization runs on a narrow margin. What sustains it is not magic, but hard work. )
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