USA Today: On the first day of George Zimmerman’s murder trial, lawyers for the man accused of murdering Trayvon Martin and state prosecutors repeatedly questioned jurors about media coverage.
Jury selection in the case began Monday and lawyers quickly made it clear that they want to know what every potential juror has been reading or watching that may impact their role as jurors. Lawyers for both sides asked potential jurors how many times they had read or watched news about the alleged crime and whether they or their family members had formed a”How many times have you seen Mark O’Mara talking on the news?” assistant state attorney Bernie de la Rionda asked a potential juor referred to as B76.
She responded that she had seen Zimmerman’s lawyer on the news three to four times.
De la Rionda went on: “Will you hold it against us that we didn’t talk to the media on a daily basis?” The woman, B76, replied that she would not.
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Trayvon’s Dad: ‘My Kid Was Perfect to Me’
As jury selection begins for the trial of his son’s killer, Tracy Martin speaks to The Root.
excerpt:
The Root: If you knew then what you know now, would you have told your son anything different about what it means to be a young black man in an American society that treats him as suspicious? What would “the talk” sound like? And do you have any advice for African-American fathers raising sons?
Tracy Martin: You can’t prepare your child to contend with the warped mentality of someone else. You can only teach them to be good and live by the laws of the land. George Zimmerman acted in a deranged way — and all the evidence supports that. I know how society negatively portrays black boys, and my son Trayvon wasn’t naive. He wasn’t blind to stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination. But I shouldn’t have to tell my child to fear walking to the store to get snacks just because he’s black.
We’re supposed to be living in a free society, aren’t we? Trayvon lived in a diverse community. His school is mixed, and Trayvon had friends who are white, black and Hispanic. I never thought this could happen to him, and I know Trayvon was scared and confused in those final moments. This wasn’t anything that any parent could prepare their child for.
http://www.theroot.com/views/trayvons-dad-my-kid-was-perfect-me?wpisrc=root_lightbox
the Judge should have put a gag order…the murderer’s legal team have been tainting the jury pool for forever and a day
O’Mara has poisoned the jury pool. He used both judges’ denial of a gag order to do incredible damage. He has played to the racist to get money and even going as far to say if you would have did what Zimmerman did…send money. And he’s talking about the killing a child. It’s reprehensible!
Court is in recess until 9am tomorrow.
Juror E54 is up..
He’s a white male. Didn’t understand why Sanford police did not charge George Zimmerman. Thought about joining the protest because Zimmerman hadn’t been arrested.
Methinks dude is attempting to get out of jury duty.
After reading some of the comments from these potential jurors it’s obvious that Judge Nelson blew it by not issuing a gag order and that she needs to issue one asap since these jurors won’t be sequester during the trial.
I noticed that some of the potential jurors so far are people who have recently moved to Florida.
I live in the West Palm Beach area and I see a different out of state tag every single day.
And I know that they aren’t snow birds because most of them left in the spring.
Over the past several months I have seen tags from Texas, Missouri, Vermont, West Virginia, Massachusetts(sic), Arizona, Virginia, etc.
Really?
Juror E 40 is up
Juror E40 is a white woman. She lived in Iowa at the time and heard about the killing on NBC.
Tony Pipitone:
“Potential juror E-6, white female, heard a bit about #TrayvonMartin, made it a cautionary teaching moment for her kids, ages 11 and 13.”
Juror E6 is up
Court back in session..
10 minute recess
Court is in recess for 10 minutes…
6 jurors and 4 alternates needed. And they’ve got 500 folks to question. This is going to take a few weeks.
Agreed!
Juror B86 says she saw photos of Zimmerman with a bleeding head and he had a broken nose.
Juror B86 says Trayvon was expelled from school and it wouldn’t have happened if he had not been here. ( Sanford)
********************
B86 is a Muthafuckin plant to keep the lie out there and taint the jury pool. BYE BITCH!
My computer is freezing up. Ugh
You may need to call the GEEK Squad and have them do a sweep.
B86 is up. Another female.
Her sons made fun of the skittles. She has 2 sons 20 & 21.
https://twitter.com/WPLGZimmerman/status/344509517595287554/photo/1
Big Mama knows!
Yes ma’am!
Juror B65 got her information from church.
Judge Nelson is telling dude how to ask a question about church. WUH?!
Juror B65 is up
Juror B55 says she “doesn’t care” about the case”. .. “it doesn’t concern me”.
NEXT…
Juror B55
An African American was wearing a hoodie & killed in a low income neighborhood.
__________________
HUH?
Juror B55 is up
Yes; we can’t fair, smart, and balanced on the jury for GZ.
Juror B51 held her own. She has experience in decision making and open minded. This isn’t her first rodeo.
West is shameful and disgusting. What kind of person tries to scare old people?
Court is in recess until 1:30pm
Is West trying to scare this old lady?
West is baiting Juror B51
So 20 potential jurors have been given the boot, huh?
the lawyer looks like that racist Furman from the OJ case
Some have said he looks like Skeletor.
West going out of bounds and got shut down for wanting to know where Juror B51 is from.
Juror B51 is up
She reads Orlando Sentinel.
Court is in 10 minute recess..
Fauxmccoy on Juror B37
Lots of rednecks in central and northern Florida. The only thing more abundant is mosquitoes.
LOL!
*HOLLERING!*
She says there was rioting but organized.
Get her ass off the stand.
ha ha ha ha ha….she heard there was rioting in Sanford…but it was organized. You can’t make this ish up. LOL
Just checking back in. What’s going on. Sounds like quite a clown show.
Juror B37 thinks there was organized rioting in Sanford after the Trayvon Martin killing.
rioting?
g-t-f-o-h
Organized rioting? WTF? Black folks gathering in any manner= RIOT!
2520/YT gathering or alone = CASUAL MEETING!
She repeated it.
Juror B37 is up
Feels the shooting was an unfortunate accident.
Next.
GTFOH And don’t ever come back!
Juror B35 is black and male. They won’t pick him. Some Zimmerman supporter thinks he’s being deceiving to get on the jury.
From a Zimmerman supporter
Comment From MortimerEsq
Seems he is trying to deceive to “get Zimmerman.” His testimony is too perfect.
@adept2u
@HillaryClinton Glass breaker and kid lover I see no commitment to BLACK civil rights on your page. #blackvotetm not open till you deposit
LOL THIS
This negro is getting me steamed. Harpo, who dis negro?
Anyone who watches Fox and listens to Hannity (or any other rightwing gasbag) should be immediately disqualified. Too ignorant to analyze evidence and separate facts from lies. Next.
Pray tell? How can a black man sit and listen to Sean Hannity and his ilk?
Well, if he was being deceitful to get on the jury, he went way too far.
Juror B35 is up
Watches Fox News Sean Hannity and he’s black.
sambo alert
LOL Buck dancin’ coonin, conivin’ & jivin negro.
B7 has served on a jury before.
Juror B7
B7 has car radio to NPR & listens to Diane Rheem. He’s middle age white male… knows about SYG, victims, suspect and their names.
Juror B7 told coworkers debating case: “This is ridiculous, let’s let the jury decide.”
Juror B7 says his dad follows the case. Dad believes Zimmerman acted inappropriately.
Juror B7 knows about the debate on SYG laws and reads the Orlando Sentinel.
Court is in session..
This is why we have to pray that justice prevails.
How Race Can Influence Jury Selection In The George Zimmerman Murder Trial
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/06/11/2133171/how-george-zimmermans-lawyers-cant-use-race-in-jury-selection/?mobile=nc
As jury selection began Monday in the trial of George Zimmerman for shooting dead 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, news reports have swirled with commentary about the race of the jury. If Zimmerman can pack the jury with “white, conservative, pro-conviction jurors,” he increases his odds of winning on a claim of self-defense, defense lawyer Jose Baez told several news outlets.
The tragic death of Martin, a black unarmed teen wearing a hoodie, has sparked national controversy not just over the now-notorious Stand Your Ground law that initially thwarted Zimmerman’s arrest, but also over the role that race plays in this and other so-called self-defense killings, as even President Obama declared, “If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon.”
But while race may be particularly relevant during this trial, it can play only a very limited role during jury selection. Although potential jurors’ views about race, racism, or related questions may be considered and are particularly important as the lawyers seek to root out bias, any attempt by the lawyers – veiled or otherwise – to eliminate jurors based on their racial identity, is unlawful and can be cause for a challenge to jury selection.
George Zimmerman Jury Selection Begins as Both Sides Cite Death Threats
http://abcnews.go.com/US/george-zimmerman-jury-selection-begins-sides-cite-death/story?id=19360931#.UbccckMo7IU
“We have an issue with security,” Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton said. “We have decided that we would not wear bullet proof vests. Are we taking a chance with our lives? Yes, we certainly are, but we’re putting our faith in God.”
The Martin family entered the courtroom stoically, but Fulton’s composure slipped and she teared up as she left the courtroom during an early break.
Only in America do we have to pray that justice prevails.
isn’t that pitiful?
It’s our sad reality.
It’s the land-o-the free and home of the brave, don’tcha know! At least for some, but not ALL.
HLNtv- Will Race Impact The Jury?
HLN VOTE
Did George Zimmerman racially profile Trayvon Martin?
http://www.hlntv.com/poll/2013/06/10/did-george-zimmerman-racially-profile-trayvon-martin?hpt=hln10_1
is water wet?
Is the sky blue?
Does a bear shit in the woods?
Good morning, everyone! Lets pray justice prevails!
Hoodies up!