Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion

I have a really bad feeling about the Zimmerman verdict. Logically, it should be a slam dunk of "Not Guilty" on all charges, since the evidence clearly shows Zimmerman was acting in justifiable self-defense as he was being beaten by Trayvon Martin. Or at least there...

The defense team continued on what is expected to be the last day of their presentation of their case. The day began and ended with a bang.  This morning Judge Nelson denied the defense's request to introduce their animated movie as evidence, although they will...

Also, Animated Video Not Evidence...

Today we will again be covering the Zimmerman Trial live, all day, with streaming video. Continuing commentary will be posted in the Twitter feed of selected contributors below the first video feed. We have brief summaries of the previous day's events (including last night's fireworks!) along links to detailed more posts below the second video feed at the bottom of this post. Also, a quick note, in thanks to the Professor and all of you I've put in place a 10% discount/free shipping coupon for Legal Insurrection followers interested in "The Law of Self Defense, 2nd Edition"--use code LOSD2-LI at checkout.

Live Stream Video

WITH COMMENTARY FROM CHANNEL 9 IN SANFORD [For live-stream video without commentary, see NBC live feed at bottom of this post.]

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(My tweets can be identified as coming from @lawselfdefense, or @lawselfdefense2 if I'm in Twitmo--follow both!.) Tweets from @LegInsurrection/zimmerman-trial

In my post last night I noted a near shouting match between defense attorney Don West and Judge Debra Nelson over whether text messages on Trayvon Martin's phone regarding fighting were "authenticated." Judge Nelson stated that there was no evidence that Trayvon typed the texts even...

A hearing was held this evening, concluding just before 10 p.m.,  on the attempt of the defense to introduce expert testimony as to text messages regarding fighting found on Trayvon Martin's cell phone. The judge previously had ruled that such social media evidence could not be mentioned in jury selection or opening statements. A large group of texts and photos were released in late May, but only some of them are at issue now. The judge expressed concern (full embed below) about admissibility on ground of authentication, that the defense could prove that the texts were to and from Trayvon's phone, but could not prove that Trayvon was using the phone at the time. "I don't have any identifying marks that these text messages" were sent by or from Martin. "Another person may know that password." The hearing was highly contentious, with defense lawyer Don West vigorously asserting that failure to allow the evidence would violate Zimmerman's constitutional rights, and blaming the prosecution for withholding evidence until early June as to the texts.  West argued that it was unfair to hold the defense to strict authentication standards given the prosecution's tactics. https://twitter.com/renestutzman/status/354782441132654592 The fireworks started about mid-way through this clip:

By far the biggest news of the day came mid-afternoon when defense attorney Mark O'Mara informed Judge Nelson that his next witness, Elouise Dilligard, would be his last of the trial, and that he expected the defense to rest their case tomorrow. Given the expectations...