Judges rejects gag order in Zimmerman case

[shawn703]

Source: CNN

The judge in the murder case of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin has denied a prosecution's motion for a gag order, but noted the court could reconsider if attorneys in the case write or say anything considered prejudicial.

"At this time, there is no demonstrated need to restrict free speech," Seminole County Circuit Judge Kenneth R. Lester wrote.

The decision -- which was made public Tuesday -- rejects, among other things, prosecutor concerns over a lack of juror impartiality due to the amount of media coverage surrounding the high-profile case.

"The case should be tried in the courtroom and not in the media," the motion read in its petition for a gag order.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/02/justice/florida-shooting/index.html

[DonCoquixote]

1. and the circus begins

Which is probably, exactly, according to plan.

[grok]

2. Breakin out the popcorn...

Can hardly wait for Intrade to to put a line out so we can start betting on the outcome..

[Boabab]

3. This trial (if there's a trial) will be

the biggest, most public, mockery in the history of jurisprudence. It will dwarf the Casey Anthony and OJ spectacles by miles.

Let's see what happens if little Georgie-porgie shifts through the tea leaves and doesn't like what he sees. Will he flee? Hide out? Will the NRA move him from safe-house to safe-house?

Stay tuned.....

[24601]

7. Yes, Zod forgive if he were to be presumed innocent as the law requires. Lynch first, trial senond.

After all, the Constitution applies only to our friends....

[DonCoquixote]

8. Presumption of innocence

Yes, we cannot ignore that, though Tray martin and many others whose skin is any darker than skim milk tend to be judged; read the responses in any Florida paper to hear people talk of how Tray should not have been there, or people talk about the days when any black person caught in a white area after dark would end up on trees.

However, the problem was that, instead of having to so much as make bail (like any DUI or much more minor offense) he was let go, and more than 40 days passed, giving lots of time for evidence tampering, mob raising, media frothing, and other mischief which could ensure that the trial itself is moot. You know the old saying about how you cannot unring a bell.

Even if somehow he turns up innocent, the process is tainted, and THAT is what people have more than enough reason to complain about. I will add this: how someone who pursued Martin against police orders, and carried a gun against neighborhood watch orders will get off scot free, is beyond me. At the very least, he is guilty of reckless endagerment, if not manslaughter, but of course SYG (which if not abused, is not so bad) will be used to enable the same people who demanded to carry guns to the GOP concention in Tampa, and who are already making threats about shooting democrats.

[marshall]

4. It will be interesting to see what they wanted to keep under the table

A few days ago even the defense didn't know.

[markpkessinger]

5. Who's to say they're trying to hide anything . . .

Gag orders are very commonly imposed in high-profile cases for numerous reason, not least of which is to avoid tainting a jury pool.

[slackmaster]

6. It's a little late to keep the case from being "tried" in the media

The horses have left the barn.