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Fri Apr 13, 2012, 03:18 PM

my2sense (2,611 posts)

Judge in George Zimmerman case offers to recuse herself

Last edited Fri Apr 13, 2012, 03:19 PM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

Source: Yahoo

A Florida judge on Friday offered to recuse herself from the George Zimmerman case in a surprise hearing because of her husband's ties to a CNN legal analyst and commentator.

The Orlando Sentinel reports that Judge Jessica Recksiedler disclosed that her husband works for Mark NeJame, a prominent Orlando attorney, in the five-minute hearing Friday afternoon. In addition to working for his law firm, NeJame sounds off on the Zimmerman case for CNN. It's unclear if either attorney will take Recksiedler up on her offer and ask her to step aside.

NeJame said on CNN today that Recksiedler wants to avoid "the appearance of impropriety" with this disclosure.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/judge-george-zimmerman-case-offers-recuse-herself-175152933.html

21 replies, 3103 views

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21 replies	Author	Time	Post
Judge in George Zimmerman case offers to recuse herself (Original post)	my2sense	Apr 2012	OP
You have to give her credit. We would not want to find that out half way through the trial.	appleannie1	Apr 2012	#1
Which goes to show you she's ethical.	Baitball Blogger	Apr 2012	#6
I think this is an excellent idea. n/t	monmouth	Apr 2012	#2
Perhaps she doesn't want to be a ringmaster. Not everyone does. n/t	PoliticAverse	Apr 2012	#3
She may have aspirations of advancement in the judge bidness	tularetom	Apr 2012	#5
I don't know how the rules are written,	Baitball Blogger	Apr 2012	#7
Or she was simply showing some integrity. Not everything is about political machinations. (nt)	Posteritatis	Apr 2012	#12
I think this is what it is	SemperEadem	Apr 2012	#14
ethical	marshall gaines	Apr 2012	#4
If I were a judge I would	Broderick	Apr 2012	#8
I think we should be concerned wit the terms "Rescues herself" Like this case is going to	Justice wanted	Apr 2012	#9
I Believe the Headline was Saying 'Recuse' Rather Than 'Rescue'	On the Road	Apr 2012	#11
My bad. My dyslexia at it again. Sorry.	Justice wanted	Apr 2012	#18
oh my	SemperEadem	Apr 2012	#15
Sorry dyslexia	Justice wanted	Apr 2012	#19
Occam's Razor	pasto76	Apr 2012	#10
"Zimmerman Sought Tiger Woods’s Lawyer"	Amerigo Vespucci	Apr 2012	#13
It's good that Zimmerman has a competent lawyer. Regardless of what he	totodeinhere	Apr 2012	#17
Good move on her part.	bluedigger	Apr 2012	#16
She was a trial lawyer handling civil cases,	JDPriestly	Apr 2012	#20
This Trial Will Require the Utmost in Transparency. This is a Good Start	AndyTiedye	Apr 2012	#21

Response to my2sense (Original post)

Fri Apr 13, 2012, 03:19 PM

appleannie1 (2,988 posts)

1. You have to give her credit. We would not want to find that out half way through the trial.

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Response to appleannie1 (Reply #1)

Fri Apr 13, 2012, 03:38 PM

Baitball Blogger (11,308 posts)

6. Which goes to show you she's ethical.

Trust me. Lawyers who represent clients in this community have not only known to hide their conflicts, but have participated in conspiracies. They fear nothing, since they know that ordinary people have no where to go for recourse.

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Response to my2sense (Original post)

Fri Apr 13, 2012, 03:20 PM

monmouth (21,078 posts)

2. I think this is an excellent idea. n/t

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Response to my2sense (Original post)

Fri Apr 13, 2012, 03:20 PM

PoliticAverse (5,541 posts)

3. Perhaps she doesn't want to be a ringmaster. Not everyone does. n/t

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Response to PoliticAverse (Reply #3)

Fri Apr 13, 2012, 03:35 PM

tularetom (17,405 posts)

5. She may have aspirations of advancement in the judge bidness

And she sees nothing but peril to her ambitions if she hears this case. Whatever happens there are going to be a lot of pissed off people and some of their anger will be directed at the judge. Such criticism could make her radioactive if she were ever in line for an appeals court position so I'm sure she would like to toss this hot potato to one of her colleagues.

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Response to tularetom (Reply #5)

Fri Apr 13, 2012, 03:40 PM

Baitball Blogger (11,308 posts)

7. I don't know how the rules are written,

but an outside judge with no political connections to either party would be the best choice.

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Response to tularetom (Reply #5)

Fri Apr 13, 2012, 04:08 PM

Posteritatis (17,303 posts)

12. Or she was simply showing some integrity. Not everything is about political machinations. (nt)

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Response to Posteritatis (Reply #12)

Fri Apr 13, 2012, 04:11 PM

SemperEadem (7,998 posts)

14. I think this is what it is

and good on her for leading by example. Too few do these days.

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Response to my2sense (Original post)

Fri Apr 13, 2012, 03:33 PM

marshall gaines (347 posts)

4. ethical

a person in the judicial/police arena with ethics

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Response to my2sense (Original post)

Fri Apr 13, 2012, 03:42 PM

Broderick (4,578 posts)

8. If I were a judge I would

take hasty steps to get away from it. It's a no win situation on any front, and I wouldn't want that responsibility. She lucked out being married to NeJame, whose fame really came from the Casey Anthony case.

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Response to my2sense (Original post)

Fri Apr 13, 2012, 03:53 PM

Justice wanted (2,657 posts)

9. I think we should be concerned wit the terms "Rescues herself" Like this case is going to

destroy a judge's career.

The Judge herself did the right thing considering this is going to be EXTREMELY high profile.

BUT we should be concerned about articles using these terms.

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Response to Justice wanted (Reply #9)

Fri Apr 13, 2012, 04:03 PM

On the Road (20,334 posts)

11. I Believe the Headline was Saying 'Recuse' Rather Than 'Rescue'

Recuse: (of a judge) Excuse oneself from a case because of a possible conflict of interest or lack of impartiality.

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Response to On the Road (Reply #11)

Fri Apr 13, 2012, 04:57 PM

Justice wanted (2,657 posts)

18. My bad. My dyslexia at it again. Sorry.

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Response to Justice wanted (Reply #9)

Fri Apr 13, 2012, 04:12 PM

SemperEadem (7,998 posts)

15. oh my

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Response to SemperEadem (Reply #15)

Fri Apr 13, 2012, 04:58 PM

Justice wanted (2,657 posts)

19. Sorry dyslexia

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Response to my2sense (Original post)

Fri Apr 13, 2012, 03:55 PM

pasto76 (1,335 posts)

10. Occam's Razor

the simplest answer is most likely the correct one. She is trying maintain her integrity by being upfront. She didnt step aside, but offered to if either prosecution or defense wishes her to. Complete opposite of the Conservative justices in SCOTUS. which is a refreshing change. I dig that.

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Response to my2sense (Original post)

Fri Apr 13, 2012, 04:08 PM

Amerigo Vespucci (30,705 posts)

13. "Zimmerman Sought Tiger Woods’s Lawyer"

April 12, 2012, 3:02 PM

Zimmerman Sought Tiger Woods’s Lawyer

http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2012/04/12/zimmerman-sought-tiger-woodss-lawyer/

Mark NeJame, the Florida attorney well-known for his representation of Tiger Woods, said in an interview on Thursday that he was asked to represent George Zimmerman about a month ago, but he declined to take the case because of time constraints.

On Wednesday, Zimmerman’s lawyers Craig Sonner and Hal Uhrig announced they were stepping down, saying at a news conference that they haven’t heard from their client and that “has gone out on his own” without consulting them.

Afterward, NeJame said, he was again approached by a representative for Zimmerman, who is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. NeJame again declined, but he suggested five lawyers, including O’Mara, who was hired.

“On the top of my list was Mark O’Mara, who I like as a person, is a friend, and who I respect tremendously,” NeJeme said, noting that he had a waiver from Zimmerman to discuss the case.

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Response to Amerigo Vespucci (Reply #13)

Fri Apr 13, 2012, 04:20 PM

totodeinhere (6,594 posts)

17. It's good that Zimmerman has a competent lawyer. Regardless of what he

has been charged with, like any other citizen, he is entitled to a fair trail and competent legal representation. If he is convicted I don't want his supporters to be able to suggest that he was railroaded.

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Response to my2sense (Original post)

Fri Apr 13, 2012, 04:19 PM

bluedigger (10,580 posts)

16. Good move on her part.

She establishes impartiality if neither side objects, and gives herself a chance to slip out of the spotlight if either side does object.

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Response to my2sense (Original post)

Fri Apr 13, 2012, 05:13 PM

JDPriestly (37,760 posts)

20. She was a trial lawyer handling civil cases,

but she may not want to try make the kinds of evidence calls she will have to make.

Anyone else want to voice an opinion on this?

But the prosecutor could easily get someone worse.

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Response to my2sense (Original post)

Fri Apr 13, 2012, 09:14 PM

AndyTiedye (22,977 posts)

21. This Trial Will Require the Utmost in Transparency. This is a Good Start

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