The Zimmerman Saga Isn't Over

[makattak]

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2020/04/zimmerman_prosecutors_deny_the_undeniable_as_lawsuit_proceeds.html

Apparently the prosecutors didn't have anything to do with... <checks notes> interviewing the witnesses, writing the arrest affidavit, or vetting the witnesses.

That seems like it should be a scandal, all by itself.

Oh, and it's looking more and more as though the prosecutors know very well that the witness they put on the stand was not a "witness" and seriously perjured herself.

This travesty of justice is getting worse over time.

[MechAg94]

It sure seems amazingly easy for dishonest people to screw up the justice system and very difficult to hold them to account. 

[griz]

I don't understand why prosecutors and attorneys are not held to the same higher standards as police officers.  All of them are given a lot of power to destroy people's lives and it should be criminal to do that to an innocent person.

[griz]

Clarification: Innocent was probably the wrong term.  He did kill Martin, but that doesn't mean the state should sanction fabricating evidence in an attempt to crush his self defense claim.

[RoadKingLarry]

When I'm king of the world prosecutorial misconduct along with pressing false charges, perjury, withholding exculpatory evidence or any other attempt to wrongfully convict a person would result in all parties engaged in the misconduct getting the maximum sentence they would have inflicted on their victims, up to and including the death penalty.

[MechAg94]

I was just thinking that these investigations should be 100% above board and documented.  The prosecutors should be held to a higher standard if they are going to enjoy legal protection. 

[Ben]

I forgot where I recently read it, but some legal commentator for someplace like MSNBC or CNN, who was a long time federal prosecutor, said some outrageously unconstitutional thing in his legal opinion (can't remember what that was either), but what most resonated with me was one of the comments regarding his statement about, "Maybe it's a good idea to go back and review all his old cases."

When you see how outrageously anti-freedom some of these guys are after the fact, it really makes you wonder how many innocent people that couldn't outspend the federal/state/local government in legal fees are sitting behind bars or otherwise have ruined lives. I'm on an "under the radar" kick right now, and it really seems that's the only place to be safe.

"I got pinched too!"

"Which is what happens when you call the Feds."

[MechAg94]

It is enough to make me very suspicious of prosecutors and maybe I shouldn't try to avoid jury duty in the future.  It also bothers me that in many cases, people accept plea deals to make things go away. 

Not sure how to fix all that.  Can rules be changes to take legal burdens off the accused?  I know there is a lot more to the defense than just hiring the lawyer.

[RoadKingLarry]

Oops

[JN01]

Zimmerman reminds me of Richard Jewel, a kind of goofy guy that the cool kids decided to utterly destroy because they did sloppy investigative work, wanted to appease the public, and because they could.

[Hawkmoon]

Clarification: Innocent was probably the wrong term.  He did kill Martin, but that doesn't mean the state should sanction fabricating evidence in an attempt to crush his self defense claim.

"Innocent" is the correct term. He was charged with murder. Homicide (the taking of a human life) in self-defense is not murder. It's not even a crime.

[Hawkmoon]

When I'm king of the world prosecutorial misconduct along with pressing false charges, perjury, withholding exculpatory evidence or any other attempt to wrongfully convict a person would result in all parties engaged in the misconduct getting the maximum sentence they would have inflicted on their victims, up to and including the death penalty.

I hereby cast my vote for Road King Larry as king of the world.

[Perd Hapley]

When I'm king of the world prosecutorial misconduct along with pressing false charges, perjury, withholding exculpatory evidence or any other attempt to wrongfully convict a person would result in all parties engaged in the misconduct getting the maximum sentence they would have inflicted on their victims, up to and including the death penalty.

Ironic, considering the source.

[AmbulanceDriver]

When I'm king of the world prosecutorial misconduct along with pressing false charges, perjury, withholding exculpatory evidence or any other attempt to wrongfully convict a person would result in all parties engaged in the misconduct getting the maximum sentence they would have inflicted on their victims, up to and including the death penalty.

Your ideas are intriguing to me, and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

(I've long felt the same way)

[DittoHead]

I think at this point most people, regardless of what they think of George, wish The Zimmerman Saga was over.

[230RN]

From OP's cited article, "a powerful but little known tool called 'Requests for Admissions.' Under Florida Law, a plaintiff can submit a list of up to 30 questions, each beginning, 'Admit that you....' Under penalty of perjury, the defendant must either admit or deny each statement. If the defendant doesn’t bother to answer any of the questions, the court assumes that they are admitted as true. "

Sounds like that's a start on laying some blame on the prosecutorial side.  I wonder how general that concept is across the States.

But I'm sure that with this "little-known tool" now highlighted to the legal community, the vast powers of the State will soon crush this opportunity for defendants in the same way the legal Powers That Be have crushed the concept of jury nullification.

Terry, 230RN

REF (Jury nullification is the source of much debate):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification

[ConstitutionCowboy]

From OP's cited article, "a powerful but little known tool called 'Requests for Admissions.' Under Florida Law, a plaintiff can submit a list of up to 30 questions, each beginning, 'Admit that you....' Under penalty of perjury, the defendant must either admit or deny each statement. If the defendant doesn’t bother to answer any of the questions, the court assumes that they are admitted as true. "

Sounds like that's a start on laying some blame on the prosecutorial side.  I wonder how general that concept is across the States.

But I'm sure that with this "little-known tool" now highlighted to the legal community, the vast powers of the State will soon crush this opportunity for defendants in the same way the legal Powers That Be have crushed the concept of jury nullification.

Terry, 230RN

REF (Jury nullification is the source of much debate):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification

I still support jury nullification. I'll never admit it court or to fellow jurors, but I'll pass judgement with the nullification as my first button. If the charge doesn't fit the Constitution, it's null and void. (I wonder why I've never been called ti sit on a jury ...)

Woody

[230RN]

Well, don't forget to take the "left to the States, or the people" clause into account.

[Hawkmoon]

I still support jury nullification. I'll never admit it court or to fellow jurors, but I'll pass judgement with the nullification as my first button. If the charge doesn't fit the Constitution, it's null and void. (I wonder why I've never been called ti sit on a jury ...)

Woody

I haven't been called for jury duty in more than fifteen years, and I'm sure it's because of jury nullification. It's a long story, but it ended up with a judge telling me that the Supreme Court didn't say what the record shows the Supreme Court did say. The judge told me I was wrong, dismissed me from the jury pool, and told me to go home and do my homework. I did -- and I then wrote her a letter citing the case and the exact words. I never received a reply, and I haven't been called for jury duty since.

[230RN]

^ "...I did -- and I then wrote her a letter citing the case and the exact words. I never received a reply..."

That's because your letter was deemed a living document and didn't really mean what it said.

 

[MechAg94]

I think at this point most people, regardless of what they think of George, wish The Zimmerman Saga was over.

I wish it was over years ago and the prosecutors never tried to pursue murder charges.  Given all the crap they did do, I hope they get what they deserve.

[T.O.M.]

I was an assistant prosecuting attorney for almost 12 years.  I was fortunate to work for an elected prosecutor who couldn't care less about politics.  His rules were simple...do the right thing.  Period.  And, in his eyes, his staff attorneys were wrong until they proved to him they were right.  Prove you were right, and he would unleash hell on whoever was coming after you.  Fail, and he would literally throw your belongings out as you were fired.  It was a great place to start my career, and grow as an attorney.

With that said, I would agree that any prosecutor proven to deliberately bring false charges or falsify/hide evidence should be criminally liable.  But you need to set the bar high for accusers as well.  Having been sued a few times by criminal defendants for prosecuting their cases (and in one case, by a victim for not filing a bullshit charge), you need to afford some protections to prosecutors from this kind of harassment, or no one will do the job.

[WLJ]

I think at this point most people, regardless of what they think of George, wish The Zimmerman Saga was over.

It will never be over because

1) The left/MSM won't stop using the incident to beat over our heads as an example of how racist we are.
2) Something shady in the prosecution was obviously going on.
3) Zimmerman won't stop doing stupid *expletive deleted*it

[Andiron]

It will never be over because

1) The left/MSM won't stop using the incident to beat over our heads as an example of how racist we are.
2) Something shady in the prosecution was obviously going on.
3) Zimmerman won't stop doing stupid *expletive deleted*it

Winner winner.

[ConstitutionCowboy]

Well, don't forget to take the "left to the States, or the people" clause into account.

Will do!

Woody