Today the Court continued its preliminary questioning of prospective jurors, moving through seven candidates by the end of the day. As was the case yesterday, questions were limited to how much exposure the prospective juror had to the case through the media and other channels, as well as how that may have impacted their opinion of the case.
Prospective Juror H7
H7 is a middle aged white man with a very raspy voice. He knew about a number of different topics, including Mr. Zimmerman’s injuries, the 911 call, the attempts by the lawyers to get expert testimony admitted, and Trayvon’s dubious history. Beyond the overal topic head, he knows very little. His testimony sounds like a series of news headlines and reflected little substantive content. For instance, he recalled seeing the pictures of Mr. Zimmerman’s injuries, but can’t recount the specifics of the event on the night in question. He said he knows there was a 911 call, thinks he’s probably heard it at one time, but can’t remember its contents at all. He knows expert testimony is in question for the case but not what that expert testimony is about. He knows that Trayvon has a troubled history, but not what the trouble was.
When H7 was asked about media bias, he said he believes the news networks were biased against guns.
#Zimmerman Trial: H7 believes big 3 news has anti-gun bias. http://t.co/t9xKQaz8rf #TrayvonMartin
— Law of Self Defense (@LawSelfDefense) June 17, 2013
[RETURNING WEDNESDAY]
Prospective Juror H10
Perhaps the briefest interview so far, H10 is an African American man who claimed he never even heard of George Zimmerman or Trayvon Martin. Says that, for religious reasons, he cannot judge any man’s guilt or innocence. Excused after he makes this statement, only about 3 minutes into questioning.
#Zimmerman Trial: H10 now up, took about 3 minutes total. Says for religious reasons he can't decide guilt or innocence. #TrayvonMartin
— Law of Self Defense (@LawSelfDefense) June 17, 2013
[DISMISSED]
Prospective Juror H13
H13 is a white woman in her 60’s, who offered up right at the start less about what she knows and more about what she doesn’t know and is still curious about. She said she would like to know why Mr. Zimmerman called 911, what time it was when the shooting took place, why Zimmerman (as she put it) “reached out” to Mr. Martin, and questioned why Mr. Zimmerman had a gun. Seemed to imply that was at minimum imprudent and at most extremely wrong. She speculated that maybe Zimmerman had the gun because the community watch group authorized it or requested it. She seemed to feel that if the community watch was involved in the decision for him to have a gun that would somehow make him less culpable for having it. The defense team wished to delve far deeper into her views on this but was stopped due to it being outside the preliminary voir dire scope of pre-trial publicity.
why #Zimmerman "reached out" to #TrayvonMartin, why Zimmerman would have a gun, was gun authorized by community 2/2 http://t.co/t9xKQaz8rf
— Law of Self Defense (@LawSelfDefense) June 17, 2013
H13 obviously finds the protests important. She saw them and recalled race riots of the past, specifically that of Rodney King, and worried that the demonstrations would move from peaceful to violent. She also thinks that if Zimmerman is deemed not guilty that protests would resume. When asked whether she thinks there could be violence she says no, she only worries about protests. When pressed, though, she admits that she couldn’t be certain it wouldn’t become violent. She isn’t worried at all, though, about her personal safety, saying she’s never heard of another juror having any issues in that regard. She does say, though, that she’s worried for the community of Sanford. Despite this she insists this won’t affect her deliberations. She thinks she is a fair person and would be fair to both sides.
#Zimmerman: H13 recalls race riots of the past. Says the protests in this case were "unsettling." http://t.co/t9xKQaz8rf #TrayvonMartin
— Law of Self Defense (@LawSelfDefense) June 17, 2013
Perhaps most the shocking of H13’s comments was in response to the question of whether she could set aside her current belief that Zimmerman followed Martin against police orders if she heard evidence to the contrary at trial. Her response was that she probably couldn’t: “I don’t think I could be open to that.” Despite this response the defense continued to question H13 at length.
H13 convinced #Zimmerman followed #TrayvonMartin after being told not to by dispatcher. Concludes this means Zimmerman "did something wrong"
— Law of Self Defense (@LawSelfDefense) June 17, 2013
On the possibility that #Zimmerman didn't follow #TrayvonMartin, H13 "I don't know that I could be open to that." http://t.co/t9xKQaz8rf
— Law of Self Defense (@LawSelfDefense) June 17, 2013
[DISMISSED]
Prospective Juror H18
H18 is an hispanic mechanic that recently opened a shop. He says starting the business kept him so busy he didn’t have the time to follow the case. He believes the loss of income from not being at the shop during sequestration would be a severe hardship. Upon further questioning he conceded that his business “will still be there,” and he would survive. (Contrary to my guess in my tweet below, this prospective juror was not dismissed.)
#Zimmerman Trial: H18 owns a mechanic shop, sequestration will be severe financial hardship. Looks like they'll dismiss him. #TrayvonMartin
— Law of Self Defense (@LawSelfDefense) June 17, 2013
[RETURNING WEDNESDAY]
Lunch Recess
Prospective Juror H27
I thought H27 would be fast. I was wrong. He donated $20 to the Zimmerman legal defense fund, something that I would think would make him clearly invested in the results of the case, regardless of the amount. What seemed to me to be an open-and-shut case of, “you’re dismissed. Thank you for your time.” turned into well over an hour of questioning. Why? Because he says his mind is still open.
#Zimmerman Trial: Back from lunch. H27 next up. He just said he donated $20 to Zimmerman defense fund. #TrayvonMartin
— Law of Self Defense (@LawSelfDefense) June 17, 2013
He has a very good understanding of the case, being familiar with Zimmerman’s statements after the event. He is also familiar with the various recordings, and even knows about Mr. Zimmerman’s prior record of getting in a fight at a bar in 2005. It has been a striking consistency that prospective jurors who have seemed favorably disposed to Mr. Zimmerman seem to be startingly more informed those those who seem disposed against him.
#Zimmerman Trial: H27 recalls Zimmerman was once reportedly in a bar fight. Not sure if anything came from accusation. #TrayvonMartin
— Law of Self Defense (@LawSelfDefense) June 17, 2013
H27 also had a couple of interesting questions asked of him by de la Rionda, asking whether he’d made an online posting of a picture of Mr. Zimmerman and whether he’d commented on something about Spike Lee in regard to this case. Presumably he would have posted a comment with regard to Mr. Lee’s tweet of what Lee believed (incorrectly) to be Zimmerman’s personal address. This tweet raised fears for the life of the person actually living at the tweeted address, particularly in the context of the $10,000 “bounty” by the New Black Panthers that had been widely reported in the media.
#Zimmerman: H27 "Some people make a living off of turning things into a racial issue when it isn't one…Mr. Sharpton & Mr. Jackson." #Trayvon
— Law of Self Defense (@LawSelfDefense) June 17, 2013
He says he’s formed an opinion, and that opinion is “70%” certain, though he’s highly skeptical of the news media and feels they could have spun the information to fit their goal to sell news. He’s open to the possibility that his information is incorrect and would convict if that was shown to be true based on the evidence in court.
#Zimmerman Trial: H27 "70%" sure Mr. Zimmerman is innocent. #TrayvonMartin
— Law of Self Defense (@LawSelfDefense) June 17, 2013
[DISMISSED]
Prospective Juror H29
H29, an older white man, was approved for the next round very quickly. Seems if you distrust the media enough you’re prime pickings for this jury. Says he doesn’t believe a word he hears from them, and so therefore knows no facts for certain about the case. Passed through without much fuss.
#Zimmerman Trial: H29 severely disapproves of Jesse Jackson & Al Sharpton's involvement. Contributed to circus. #TrayvonMartin
— Law of Self Defense (@LawSelfDefense) June 17, 2013
[RETURNING WEDNESDAY]
Prospective Juror 31
H31 is a single hispanic woman in her 30’s with 2 children, both under the age of 14. While initially a great potential pick due to her lack of knowledge of the case, that lack of knowledge came from being the sole provider for two young kids. It quickly became apparent that there would be a substantial hardship involved in taking away the kids’ sole caregiver for a month and she was dismissed.
#Zimmerman Trial: H31 questioning ended after citing severe hardship. H35 now up, a woman in 20's or 30's. #TrayvonMartin
— Law of Self Defense (@LawSelfDefense) June 17, 2013
[DISMISSED]
Prospective Juror H35
H35 is a young white woman with self-professed social anxiety and few friends. She doesn’t listen to the news, instead picking up all relevant information about her community and life from Facebook. She admits to once liking a picture of Trayvon on Facebook but struggles to explain why, though she did give some vague reasoning that the post said you should like it if you’re not racist but not if you are.
#Zimmerman Trial: H35 recalls very little. Knows #TrayvonMartin bought skittles, there was a 'hoodie' involved somehow, and someone was shot
— Law of Self Defense (@LawSelfDefense) June 17, 2013
Other than that liking an image of Trayvon makes you not a racist, she knows little of the case. She said she recalls someone was shot and concludes, based on that knowledge alone, that there must have been a gun involved. She also knows Trayvon went and got skittles, that those skittles were “somehow” important, and that a hoodie was involved.
#Zimmerman Trial: H35 recalls very little. Knows #TrayvonMartin bought skittles, there was a 'hoodie' involved somehow, and someone was shot
— Law of Self Defense (@LawSelfDefense) June 17, 2013
[RETURNING WEDNESDAY]
At that point the court recessed until 9AM tomorrow for the purposes of juror voir dire, The court remains in session, however, for the purpose of completing the Frye hearing that was left incomplete prior the preliminary voir dire of prospective jurors.
Well, that’s it for today’s coverage of day six of the Zimmerman trial. Be sure to check back in then, as well as during the weekend to see if any news occurs during the interval.
Andrew F. Branca is an MA lawyer and author of the seminal book “The Law of Self Defense” which shows you how to successfully fight the 20-to-life legal battle everyone faces after defending themselves (second edition shipping in June – save 30% and pre-order TODAY!). Many thanks to the Professor for the invitation to guest-blog on the Zimmerman trial here on Legal Insurrection!
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Comments
And as soon as the lawyers locate the least-informed, least interested, least intelligent, least busy and/or best able to BS people from the jury pool, we’ll be ready to start.
Having listened to H35, I could definitely see her being a “stealth” juror. She contradicted herself a lot. Seemed to be grasping for answers that she thought the lawyers wanted to hear, rather than the truth.
Hmmm. Let’s see: Those who favor George Zimmerman are better informed, but those that favor Treyvon Martin are uninformed?
Could it be that those that favor *little 6 foot, 160 pound Treyvon Martin” lack knowledge of facts or forensics, but still want George Zimmerman to “pay?” Although some of these prospective jurors only listen to liberal stations, they swear they can be impartial. This would be a bad time to bet the ranch that any impartiality can or will be shown. Here’s what would be a good bet: these uninformed prospective jurors can’t wait to convict. Whenever facts or evidence will be presented in the courtroom that doesn’t fit their preconceived notion of what Al Sharpton’s told them: lalalala I can’t hear you! In effect, these uninformed jurors are not big fans of due process, are they? But those that rely on facts and forensics are racists? Do we see a pattern here?
Re: H35
My gods, she’s brilliant. Step aside, Holmes, we have the NEXT “World’s Greatest Detective”…
You never know. Zimmerman could have shot him with his bow and arrow. 😉
Regarding H10, I’m sure his scriptural reference would be, “‘Vengeance is mine’, saith the Lord.” Which means not to take justice into your own hands. I believe his religious reasoning is somewhat flawed in extending this to being asked to weigh the evidence in a case in which due process is allowed to proceed. Nevertheless, it’s his religious right to do so, and it may be a great way to escape jury duty in future trials 🙂
I’m betraying my absolute ignorance of legal proceedings, but is jury selection always this weird?
Any bets on whether prospective juror H27 will try to pull a stun like Jerry Counelis did? I’d bet against that happening. For some reason, not only do those that seem to favor Mr. Zimmerman seem more well informed, but they also seem a little more “even-keeled” as it were.
SANFORD — Quietly and with hardly anyone noticing, George Zimmerman’s attorneys persuaded a judge to ban prosecutors from using the word “profiled” in their opening statement.
That means the theory that was the backbone of the state’s case — that 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was profiled — is now something prosecutors cannot mention as they launch into their case against the former Neighborhood Watch volunteer.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/trayvon-martin/os-geo-zimmerman-trial-profile-20130617,0,1761292.story
The notion that Zimmerman had “racially profiled” Martin has already been debunked as nothing more than any fabrication of the anti-Zimmerman disinformation “machine” and the mainstream media lackeys.
See my post on this over at the Law of Self Defense blog: Myth Busters: Did Zimmerman really “racially profile” Martin? http://bit.ly/19MreR0
Like so many things about this case it has been debunked and yet many people still believe it’s true.
Of course Zimmerman profiled Martin. Unfamiliar face? Check. Strolling around in the rain scoping out the apartments? Check. Male under 40? Check. Do we expect the neighborhood watch to follow their neighbors whom they are familiar with around? No, we expect them to exercise judgement and discernment to identify potential trouble-makers. In other words, we expect them, just like we expect the police and other law enforcement agents, to profile potential suspects. Otherwise, you have stupidity like a TSA agent feeling up grandma’s Depends at the security line.