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Zimmerman trial, a few comments
Jul. 15th, 2013 05:19 pmThis is social politics. Enter as you please.
I am disappointed, but not surprised, by the verdict. I think it was a huge mistake to try and get him on second-degree murder, and it gave the jury an out they should not have had. I believe if the government had gone directly for manslaughter they could have gotten it.
I am slightly surprised that Florida's Stand Your Ground clause played such a minor role in the trial or verdict compared to the glare of attention initially focused on it. I happen to think SYG clauses are a terrible idea, but this trial doesn't give us evidence for that one way or another.
I was surprised that Florida allows a major crime case to be heard by a 6-person jury. There are very few states that allow this and while I see the value in smaller juries for minor issues and I agree it's harder to seat and sequester a 12-person jury (plus alternates) I think it's a reform that Florida needs. It's just too easy to get unrepresentative groups of 6 and too easy for a group that small not to have enough variety of opinions and views going into deliberations. Yes, contrary to my generally cynical nature, I'm mostly of the belief that juries are a good idea in non-technical cases. For cases involving novel technology or complex science I'm more fond of a judge+special master model, but that's aside.
There is no way that the DOJ is going to charge Zimmerman with a civil rights/federal violation. It's harder to prove that than to prove the manslaughter charge he was acquitted on. A much more likely next step would be for Martin's family to file a civil wrongful death suit in which the standard of proof is considerably lower.
I am disappointed, but not surprised, by the verdict. I think it was a huge mistake to try and get him on second-degree murder, and it gave the jury an out they should not have had. I believe if the government had gone directly for manslaughter they could have gotten it.
I am slightly surprised that Florida's Stand Your Ground clause played such a minor role in the trial or verdict compared to the glare of attention initially focused on it. I happen to think SYG clauses are a terrible idea, but this trial doesn't give us evidence for that one way or another.
I was surprised that Florida allows a major crime case to be heard by a 6-person jury. There are very few states that allow this and while I see the value in smaller juries for minor issues and I agree it's harder to seat and sequester a 12-person jury (plus alternates) I think it's a reform that Florida needs. It's just too easy to get unrepresentative groups of 6 and too easy for a group that small not to have enough variety of opinions and views going into deliberations. Yes, contrary to my generally cynical nature, I'm mostly of the belief that juries are a good idea in non-technical cases. For cases involving novel technology or complex science I'm more fond of a judge+special master model, but that's aside.
There is no way that the DOJ is going to charge Zimmerman with a civil rights/federal violation. It's harder to prove that than to prove the manslaughter charge he was acquitted on. A much more likely next step would be for Martin's family to file a civil wrongful death suit in which the standard of proof is considerably lower.
