Friday, August 31, 2012

Geo. Zimmerman wins one--judge disqualifed

The handling of the Geo. Zimmerman case was beginning to look like a kangaroo court proceeding. However, Zimmerman's motion to disqualify the trial court judge was granted.  He will get a new judge.  Appellate courts rarely grant such motions. However, this was a rather flagrant case. Perhaps there is a chance Zimmerman will get a fair trial. I'm still not optimistic as the race card undoubtedly will be played (again) once the case gets to trial. However, this is a step in the right direction.

4 comments:

  1. I agree. The frictions between the Hispanic and Black communities demand judges that are not caving or pandering to one or the other. The original judge appeared to be long on ego and short on the maturity needed for a case of this significance. Zimmerman is obviously at fault at some level for a terrible outcome, but a fair determination of exactly what that is should trump a petty magistrate's fit of pique.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ridge:
    Thanks! Agreed. Is it safe to assume that you are a part-time resident of Florida?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Safe assumption . . . meaning that I have a vested interest in avoiding the impression that Florida judicial proceedings that rise to a level of national significance need to be orchestrated by "wiser" heads from someplace else. The Casey Anthony debacle certainly left that conclusion.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ridge: Thanks for the comment. The Casey Anthony case was another example of prosecutorial over-reaching. If you think media and public attention was over the top for that case, wait till Zimmerman goes to trial. The media and government abuse in that case pales in comparison to the Zimmerman case. What's your impression of the Florida criminal justice system?

    ReplyDelete