Zimmerman's father was NEVER a judge.

[GreenStormCloud]

That Z's daddy is a retired judge is a DU myth that just won't die. He was NEVER a judge, anywhere. Some years back Virginia did away with their Justice of the Peace system and replaced them with the office of Magistrates.

http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/crime/zimmerman-dad-worked-as-magistrate

George Zimmerman’s father is Robert Zimmerman. Robert Zimmerman gave a statement to the ‘Orlando Sentinel’ defending his son’s role in the shooting death of teenager Trayvon Martin.

We then contacted the Virginia Supreme Court to confirm Robert Zimmerman’s employment.

Kristi Wright with the Department of Legislative and Public Relations wrote us this email in response:

“Robert J. Zimmerman served as a full-time magistrate from 2000-2006. Please be advised that in Virginia magistrates are judicial officers, but they are not considered "judges" and do not possess trial jurisdiction. More detailed information on the role of the magistrate in Virginia is available on Virginia's Judicial System Website .”

Z's daddy was roughly equal to a Justice of the Peace in other states.

[Kingofalldems]

1. Already been established.

I see what you are doing.

[JimDandy]

142. The significance of George Zimmerman's father,

Robert Zimmerman Sr's former employment wasn't the exact title of his position. The significance was that, because his duties effected court matters in VA, he undoubtedly knew the machinations of courts, the prosecutor's office, and police agencies, and how they generally made decisions. That would have been very advantageous for George to have access to that kind of knowledge.

George made a phone call immediately after he shot Trayvon. He had no attorney at that time and he wasn't calling his wife or 911, so it would not be a stretch to speculate that he might have been calling his father for advice.

Whether or not Robert Zimmerman, Sr. tried to use his knowledge or his former position of employment to, in any way, influence law enforcement personnel in another state, as other posters have suggested, would be a matter of record. Now that his son's case is over, a government records request asking for any phone calls, emails, documents, etc. that mention the former Magistrate, can be submitted to each of the government entities involved, to determine whether he contacted them.

[Pablo Guachupita]

2. But he somehow had the power to influence prosecutors, jurors, etc.

In another state.

The internet said so.

[AllINeedIsCoffee]

3. Trial is over. No one gives a fuck. nt

[Skittles]

4. YOU GOT WHAT YOU WANTED

STOP FUCKING WHINING

[Paladin]

5. Amen, +1000. (nt)

[uppityperson]

6. + a brazillion

[Robb]

10. This.

[NoGOPZone]

14. .

[LaydeeBug]

17. x ten million. Oh, and a *magistrate* isn't connected AT ALL. nt

[GreenStormCloud]

29. Magistrate is what VA calls their JPs.

Their influence would be extremely minor, even in their own state. For a VA JP to try to influence things in FL would be laughable. He would not have any leaverage to work with.

[LaydeeBug]

47. Oh no. None at all. The "I feared for my life" happened AFTER he talked to his father

but there's nothing to see here. Nothing at all.

Charges like this get 'dropped' and the S.A.'s call in the middle of the night ALL THE TIME.

*EVERYBODY* gets as many charges as GZ's had against him dropped all time time, said no black man ever,

Please.

[BainsBane]

33. No shit

Time for some major ass kicking, Skittles.

[Drunken Irishman]

34. They also most spike the ball and do an end zone dance.

Disgusting. Every post like the OP's is tantamount to dancing on Martin's grave.

[CatWoman]

38. ya think he/she/it gets it?

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

39. No shit,

Can't believe GreenStormFrontCloud is still allowed to post here.

[hrmjustin]

46. They just won't quit. Got to rub it in our faces.

[Rex]

57. You really expected something different then this gloating?

I mean, the legal team seems to be moving on to other things. Yet some here are not interested in that in the least bit. They want to see you get mad.

Seems they are not done kicking this kids body around yet. You know ghouls never let go of something that can anger others. Specially when it involves the innocent or kids.

[GreenStormCloud]

61. Not gloating. Fed up with people posting that he was a judge who used influence. N/T

[R B Garr]

65. But wasn't that one of the main reasons Zimmerman wasn't arrested right away

He was known to the police department because of his father. That was one of the first things discussed about this case. George Zimmerman was known to the police department because of his community watch work and because of his father. The Zimmermans definitely used influence, judge or magistrate doesn't matter.

[Rex]

104. Yes, they all know that to a T.

This is Kabuki theater.

[hfojvt]

145. no that was one of the absurd conspiracy theories

a Virginia magistrate simply does NOT have a lot of clout in Florida. Maybe if they were in Virginia or if he was a retired Florida judge, but barring some other connection (like some of his Virginia buddies moved to the same Florida city, or maybe he was in the same military unit with some Florida big shot) then the elder Zimmerman simply does NOT have a bit of clout in Florida.

[R B Garr]

153. If he knew people on the police force in Florida, then where he was connected doesn't matter

I see what you're saying in a larger sense in terms of clout, but it's not necessary to have clout to know people on the Florida police department, and it was that department where the Zimmerman's were known that didn't arrest him right away. I didn't realize this was part of a conspiracy theory about the delay in arresting Zimmerman. That was how this case got momentum and national attention was because no arrest was made and people wanted to know why.

[hfojvt]

154. but knowing police does not have anything to do with being a magistrate in Va

and how does he know people on the police force? Does he live next door to some? Does he goto church with some?

But in a case of real power, he doesn't even have to know people. If he was a retired Florida judge, then people who know him, and he would not just know police, he would know the police CHIEF and the current judges and DAs and such.

And yes, to point to his position in Virginia and think that shows some kind of clout in Florida is a conspiracy theory, and a rather dumb one. Even being a former Governor does not mean excrement if you are in a different state from where you were Governor.

In fact, a former Governor and current Congressman, surprisingly enough, went to jail when he accidentally killed somebody even in the state where he used to be Governor. Okay, he served a mere 100 days in jail, which is pretty paltry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Janklow#Vehicular_manslaughter

But there is a case of real clout - local Governor (4 terms), Congressman > out of state retired judge, actually much greater than, and he still was arrested and tried.

[R B Garr]

155. On that police department, the one which did not arrest Zimmerman right away

it was all over the news that the Zimmermans were known to the police department, so that's the natural speculation as to why he wasn't arrested right away. Are you saying the news was totally wrong and George Zimmerman was not known to the Florida Police Department in Sanford through his community watch work where it was reported that his father was also known? Now I see how you got the conpiracy theory bit -- you want to know how they know each other.

So the Zimmermans had enough clout with that department in Florida not to be arrested for murder right away. What else would real power look like? That was apparently enough power for that department to not arrest him at that time. After national pressure (more clout I guess), he was finally arrested.

[onenote]

158. I don't think "clout" had anything to do with how the Sanford police handled this case.

I think they handled this case the way they did because they operate in environment of institutionalized racism in which someone who looks like George Zimmerman will be viewed by them as the "good guy" and someone who looks like Trayvon will be viewed as the bad guy no matter who their respective fathers are.

[Rex]

66. Why? If you are picky over facts how do you know he was not?

You got access to a spy cam that the rest of the world doesn't have? Please, no I don't think so.

Oh and a magistrate IS a judge. Sorry.

[LaydeeBug]

72. He's not picky over facts. If he were, he'd know that they are the same. nt

[Rex]

75. Ya another one jumped in like clockwork to tell me

something stupid, where do they come from I wonder?

[uppityperson]

78. I think ladybug is agreeing with you

?

[Rex]

82. Not her.

Further down the thread.

[LaydeeBug]

86. Yes, her. I was agreeing with you. nt

[uppityperson]

89. Ah, sorry

[Rex]

92. NP.

I see 99% of us are in agreement in this thread. We all know that the sky is blue. That a judge is a magistrate is a judge.

[LaydeeBug]

95. I *was* agreeing with him, you were right. nt

[Rex]

100. Yes we have something in common in this thread.

We agree.

[LaydeeBug]

90. WHAT "further down the thread? nt

[Rex]

94. #87

Is having meltdown issues.

[LaydeeBug]

99. #87 was not written by me. what gives?

[Rex]

101. Sorry that is who I was refering to.

Not you sorry for the confusion, I knew you agreed with me.

[LaydeeBug]

103. Ok, but you should tell me a funny story now. nt

[Rex]

140. Funny story time.

The contemplative routine of the convent was being disrupted by the presence of workmen converting the electrical service from overhead lines to buried cable. Mother Superior called the electric company's complaint department to ask for help."The profanity these men use constantly is unsuitable for our community. You must make them stop cursing so much.", said the nun."Very well, sister. But you must make allowances for their habits. Even when they are trying to be tactful, they will still tend to call a spade a spade.", said the company spokeswoman.Mother superior then observed, "I think the term they actually use is 'fucking shovel!'".

[LaydeeBug]

83. ^^ this ^^ nt.

[Rex]

88. Oh yeah!

Hey want to hear a funny story? Someone told me a funny story.

[LaydeeBug]

102. Glad we worked that out. nt

[dgibby]

159. Not in Va.

My mother was a J.P. in Va for years. She could write warrents, bonds, act as a notary. She was not a judge, didn't even have the authority to perform a marriage.
Other states have other rules about magistrates and the scope of their job description, but in Va, it's very limited.

[Skittles]

109. I'm fed up with a dead kid because of a paranoid racist gun humping piece of SHIT

[GreenStormCloud]

114. That still doesn't make his father a Judge. N/T

[Skittles]

117. del and putting this gun humper on IGNORE

sick of his fear and ignorance

[Starry Messenger]

63. Love you!

[davidpdx]

91. +1 @ Skittles

[uponit7771]

148. +1

[bigwillq]

150. Skittles, please run for prez in 2016!

We need YOU!

[JustAnotherGen]

151. [phone]

[yewberry]

7. Well, that makes it okay that he stalked and killed an unarmed kid.

Sure it does. Thanks for the clarification.

[uppityperson]

8. However, he IS a racist asshole who raised a son who murdered a teen one night.

[VanillaRhapsody]

9. Office Of the Magistrate

Office Of the Magistrate
Magistrates are independent judicial officers who work directly for the Supreme Court of Virginia, Office of the Executive Secretary. The principal function of the magistrate is to provide an independent, unbiased review of complaints of criminal conduct brought to the office by law enforcement or the general public. Magistrate duties include issuing various types of processes such as arrest warrants, summonses, bonds, search warrants, and medical detention orders. Magistrates also conduct bail hearings in instances in which an individual is arrested on a warrant charging him or her with a criminal offense. Magistrates provide services 24-hours a day, 365 days a year.

Are you saying he had no authority other than to marry people? No contact with the Judicial System?

[GreenStormCloud]

11. He was NOT a judge. N/T

[VanillaRhapsody]

18. He did adjudicate as noted above...

we often refer to being married by "the judge" do we not?

Magistrate System
About
In many instances, a citizen's first contact with Virginia’s Judicial System comes through the office of the Magistrate. A principal function of the magistrate is to provide an independent, unbiased review of complaints of criminal conduct brought to the office by law enforcement or the general public. Magistrate duties include issuing various types of processes such as arrest warrants, summonses, bonds, search warrants, subpoenas, and certain civil warrants. Magistrates also conduct bail hearings in instances in which an individual is arrested on a warrant charging him or her with a criminal offense. Magistrates provide services on an around-the-clock basis, conducting hearings in person or through the use of videoconferencing systems.

The magistrate system for the Commonwealth is divided into eight regions, and each magistrate is authorized to exercise his or her powers throughout the magisterial region for which he or she is appointed. Each region is comprised of between three and five judicial districts. There are magistrate offices located throughout Virginia, including at least one in each of Virginia’s 32 judicial districts.

[GreenStormCloud]

31. Compare that to what a JP does in other states.

Duties are similar.

[VanillaRhapsody]

105. I gave you the definition of what one does in Virginia...

what diff does it make what ANY other states JP does?

[GreenStormCloud]

107. Because they are the same duties. Only the title is different. N/T

[VanillaRhapsody]

111. and that meaaannsss????

exactly what?

[GreenStormCloud]

113. That his dad had the duties of a JP, but the title was Magistrate. N/T

[uppityperson]

119. So in VA he was a judge. Right.

[VanillaRhapsody]

122. In VIRGINIA

where I gave you the exact job description to the job he had....what they do in other states means diddly squat to this discussion now...

[hack89]

12. He didn't even require a law degree. nt

[GreenStormCloud]

20. JPs do more than marry people.

Duties vary some from state to state. Here is what they are for most states: http://www.cab.org.nz/vat/gl/ls/Pages/JusticesofthePeaceandNotariesPublic.aspx

All JP services are free. They have two sets of responsibilities – ministerial and judicial. Their ministerial roles include;
•Witnessing signatures on documents
•Certifying copies of documents
•Completing declarations (including statutory declarations), affidavits or affirmations

Judicial duties require additional specific training and could include;
•Hearing summary offences
•Conducting traffic courts
•Hearing bail applications and requests for remands and adjournments
•Issuing search warrants

Those correspond closely with the paragraph you got from the VA site.

[pintobean]

13. What's the point?

This just looks like shit stirring.

[GreenStormCloud]

15. I got tired of people posted about his daddy being a judge.

In another thread some poorly informed person tried to say that Z had influence because of his father being a retired judge.

[uppityperson]

16. One person posted it, so rather than answering him there, you had to start another thread.

[GreenStormCloud]

23. For weeks I have been posting that to individuals.

I got fed up with the myth circulating.

[uppityperson]

27. Uh huh. Annoys you when someone else does it?

[Kingofalldems]

24. He accused me of being that person at first.

This thread is trolling 101.

[pintobean]

28. I have to agree.

[Kingofalldems]

30. Hello there.

[GreenStormCloud]

37. And I apologized for that error. N/T

[Kingofalldems]

40. Fine. But you didn't have to start another thread

You should delete this POS.

[uppityperson]

42. You could go delete the post that says....

You have a problem with truth?

As progressives we are supposed to be about truth. When you post that his father was a judge, you are posting a lie. Let's leave lying to the Republicans.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023322252#post209

[GreenStormCloud]

44. Fair request. I was responding to the wrong person. Done. N/T

[VanillaRhapsody]

19. are you saying he had NO ability to influence based on his profession?

THAT would also be a lie!

[GreenStormCloud]

21. A VA JP is going to have influence in FL? LOL. N/T

[VanillaRhapsody]

22. Oh you don't really believe THAT do you?

if so you are incredibly naive Mr StormCloud

[R B Garr]

35. But the people who knew him in Florida knew what he did (in VA)

The Zimmerman's were admittedly well known by the Florida officials, so what difference does it make about VA.

[pintobean]

25. I'm with uppityperson on this one.

Do you just like to piss off people who are hurting?

[BainsBane]

26. He got away with murder

Talk about being a sore winner. Give it up already.

[Octafish]

32. Judge. Magistrate. So what? Fucker fathered a child killer.

What more can you say?

[Hoyt]

48. Exactly, dad brought Zman up to be a gun carrying bigot.

Beyond that, daddy didn't have much impact on sonny boy killing an innocent kid, in a state with bigoted gun laws, and a jury pool with enough gutless bigoted, gun lovers to end up with six B37s who judged Trayvon as guilty, even though the wanton shooter was on trial.

[benld74]

36. So he was a 'wanna be' judge in the same manner his kid was a 'wanna be" law enforcement,,,,

[GreenStormCloud]

41. Maybe. But JPs have very little influence to pull strings.

And out of state they don't have any influence, especially several states away.

[Ken Burch]

43. Do you just post here to taunt people who mourned Trayvon's unjustified killing?

Give it a rest already. You got what you and the rest of the white supremacists wanted.

It's now hunting season in Florida for black male teenagers.

Isn't that enough?

[GreenStormCloud]

50. Why do people post that his daddy was a judge when he wasn't?

It simply isn't true. Nor is it hunting season on BMs either. You may wish to check out the statistics on cross-racial SYG shootings.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3325889

[uppityperson]

53. Just stop.

[Ken Burch]

121. Your post would be somewhat more credible if you hadn't referred to black males as "BMs".

And really, what freaking difference does it make what people called Zimmerman's dad? He was still clearly a person of privilege and it matters that he's wealthy and white. Those two factors, by themselves, were going to grease the skids for his kid.

And even if those statistics you quoted are accurate...they don't really mean all that much.

It's likely that, last year, the fact that Zimmerman was charged and there was the possibility that the SYG laws might be discredited or even thrown out by some court probably reduced the number of killings that would have fit under the SYG rubric.

We can assume that, with Zimmerman's acquittal, no white guy will be prosecuted for killing a black male teenager in Florida any time soon now...if ever. The verdict will open the floodgates and white paranoia will soak the streets of Florida with blood. And it's totally unnecessary. There were never that many home invasions and the SYG laws weren't necessary...hardly anybody who was truly defending their homes was prosecuted for shooting the intruder.

Please stop starting these petty, nitpicking threads. I don't know what your motivation is here, but it sure as hell looks like you're just here to be a shit-disturber. If you're not, threads like this don't exactly help prove it.

[yardwork]

45. Who cares?

[hrmjustin]

49. His son is a murderer.

[uponit7771]

149. +1

[dlwickham]

51. at least in WV, a magistrate is one level below judge

I would guess that Virginia's system is similar

they might handle misdemeanor cases and things like that but they're still officers of the court

[GreenStormCloud]

52. So is a JP, in most states.

Lots of positions, such as Constable, are officers of the court.

[onenote]

64. You'd be wrong in your guess

At the time Zimmerman's father was a magistrate, magistrates couldn't even handle a traffic ticket.

[dlwickham]

124. most judges don't handle traffic tickets

in WV it's municipal courts that handle traffic tickets

magistrates are elected on a county level

[onenote]

128. In Virginia, magistrates are hired

Last edited Wed Jul 24, 2013, 09:24 AM - Edit history (1)

by the Executive Secretary of the state Supreme Court (the executive secretary is the chief administrative officer of the court, not a judge). When Zimmerman's dad had the job, its duties were more akin to those of clerk of the court than a judge. While the position has been "upgraded" somewhat, until 2008 (after Zimmerman's dad retired), you didn't even need to have graduated from college get hired as a magistrate in Virginia.(Now a bachelor's degree is a prerequisite, but no legal training is required). At the time Zimmerman's dad worked as a magistrate, the job paid around $35K a year (assuming he was a full time rather than part time magistrate) -- probably less than what the Sanford police chief is paid.

Unlike any judge anywhere in the country, magistrates in Virginia are "at will" employees who serve at the pleasure of the Executive Secretary. As such, magistrates may be terminated with or without cause or notice.

The point of this is that some folks seem to think the reason the police botched the Zimmerman investigation is because of some undue influence wielded by Zimmerman's father (who lived in another town).

The reality is that the police botched the investigation because they are incompetent, racially biased boobs operating in an environment of institutionalized prejudice.

[Just Saying]

54. Know who started the DU myth that George's dad was a judge?

The ever honest and trustworthy...

George Zimmerman!

Yep, he name dropped his dad "the judge" while explaining his past arrest for assaulting an officer to the police academy he was applying for in 2008.

My father is a retired Magistrate Judge for the Supreme Court of Virginia...

Document is here:

http://www.scribd.com/mobile/doc/87064208

And this is from VA Judicial System website about magistrates:

In many instances, a citizen's first contact with Virginia’s Judicial System comes through the office of the Magistrate. A principal function of the magistrate is to provide an independent, unbiased review of complaints of criminal conduct brought to the office by law enforcement or the general public. Magistrate duties include issuing various types of processes such as arrest warrants, summonses, bonds, search warrants, subpoenas, and certain civil warrants. Magistrates also conduct bail hearings in instances in which an individual is arrested on a warrant charging him or her with a criminal offense. Magistrates provide services on an around-the-clock basis, conducting hearings in person or through the use of videoconferencing systems.

I believe magistrate is synonymous with justice of the peace but this definition is specific to where Robert Zimmerman worked.

[dlwickham]

123. looks like people ignore the "magistrate" part of "magistrate judge"

[Just Saying]

134. ...

mag·is·trate
/ˈmajəˌstrāt/
Noun
A civil officer or lay judge who administers the law, esp. one who conducts a court that deals with minor offenses.

Synonyms
judge - justice

I guess Zimmerman added the "judge" part when he was name dropping.

[RetroLounge]

55. STFU already

RL

[Rex]

56. Zimmerman said his daddy was a judge, why are you splitting hairs here?

Just decided to obvious troll and take up the slack? Stay tuned, they are not done kicking this kid around yet.

[GreenStormCloud]

58. It is well establish that Z is a slimeball. I have never denied that.

But I get picky over facts. His daddy was never a judge. As a Magistrate (JP) in VA he had no power to pull strings in FL. He could give his son advice over the phone, but anybody can do that.

[uppityperson]

59. Why do you believe someone connected with the courts in 1 state would have no string pulling power

in another state?

bonus question: Why did Zimmy refer to his father as a judge?

bonus question #2: Why did you not simply reply to the person in the other thread instead of starting another shit on thread to pull attention to yourself?

[GreenStormCloud]

85. String pulling power is based on favors.

To be able to pull a string to have to be able to respond when your string is pulled. IOW - To get someone in power to do a favor for you, you have to be able to do favors for them. A VA Magistrate can't even take care of a parking ticket. He ability to do favors was very limited, and across state lines it would basically vanish.

1st bonus question. Because Z was trying to make himself look more important than he really was. That is consistent with Z's personality.

#2: For weeks I have been posting that his dad wasn't a judge. When I saw one more poster make that claim, I got fed up with it. I decided to let all of DU know that it wasn't true. People, like yourself and many others, can get mad at me, but what I have said is true. His father was NOT a judge.

[uppityperson]

98. String pulling is based on history also. Not just on being able to give/take equally. It also is

based on things like do you work in the same system (for instance cops from different places that have no influence over each other help each other because they are cops. Or judges).

How do you know papa Zimmy's past? How do you know that he doesn't have that "same system" influence"?

For bonus question #2? I see. You wanted to make it about you.

He may not have been a Judge (notice the capital J?) but he sure was a racist, sure as shit had influence and sure as hell raised an asshole kid who murdered a teen for no reason beyond his own idiocy.

[GreenStormCloud]

108. Have you ever listened to the song, "What Have You Done For Me Lately?"

That's the way influence works. If you did something once, but can't do anything now, you don't have any influence.

[uppityperson]

110. Hahahahahahahahaha. Fail. Major fail. Influence is not simply based on what you can do now.

Seriously, wtf? People who went to school together but can't "do anything" for someone else still can have influence. People who have worked together, or even in the same system (remember my "cops" example?) can have influence.

If you seriously believe influence is based ONLY on what you can do for someone when you ask for something, or get something, you are really naive.

[GreenStormCloud]

115. If you think that you can get major strings pulled "for old times sake", you are naive.

Minor strings - maybe. Major strings are strickly based on ability to return favors.

[uppityperson]

116. So I guess papabush, cheney, all of them are now powerless. Skull & Bones types means nothing?

all those Skull and Bones types have no influence over anything. Gotcha.

[GreenStormCloud]

130. Basically correct. They are has-beens.

Let me explain how string pulling works, since you don't seem to understand it.

If you are in power and pull a string, there is ALWAYS a possibility that the favor you do can blow up in your face and come back to haunt you, even years later. There is a risk attacted to every string. With minor favors that risk is very tiny so small favors can be done for the sake of past friendships. But as the size of the favor increases, so does the risk, until it reaches a point (rather rapidly) in which the favor will not be granted without some sort of payback. The risk has to be worth the reward, or it will not be taken. So if you don't have to ability to return favors, then you are bankrupt in the game of influence.

JPs have very little influence, even in their own state.

[uppityperson]

138. Oh, I understand well, thank you very much. Refusing to acknowledge that there may be unseen

connections, or that things like the "good old boys network" exist, or that cops from other places support each other because they are cops (brotherhood of police, sea of blue, etc) seems rather odd.

But since you go out of your way to try and clear up anything you think negative about Zimmy yet have not ever done so about Trayvon as far as I recall, it makes sense.

[Rex]

62. Picky over facts? His dad was a judge, they called him a magistrate.

And how would you even know anything about his family connections? Strange if you are so picky over facts. What do you know about them? How could you possibly know if his dad knows other people in the criminal justice system?

Give me a break.


EDIT - you do realize that in modern times another word for magistrate is judge, right?

[GreenStormCloud]

67. The position was basically the same as a JP in other states.

JPs have very little influence, and even less in states outside their own. Influence is based on leverage. What kind of favors you can give in exchange for favors received. As a JP he would not be able to do much in the way of favors. It isn't enough to know someone, you have to be able to do something for them to get them to do something for you.

[Rex]

68. You do realize that another word for magistrate is judge, right?

I will ask you again.

[onenote]

71. Sure. And so is appraiser

But that doesn't mean someone who is an "appraiser" is someone with judicial authority. And given that the state of Virginia itself takes the position that there is legal distinction between a "magistrate" and a "judge" one wonders why you persist in this line of argument.

[Rex]

73. He was a judge and did the things judges do, sorry if that bothers you in some way.

One wonders why you jumped in here with useless information?

[onenote]

79. He was not permitted to virtually any of the things that a judge does

I suspect your familiarity with the judicial system is pretty limited based on your statements here. As a lawyer living in Virginia for the last 30 plus years, I can assure you that you are most mistaken if you think anyone in this state considers a magistrate remotely comparable to a judge.

[Rex]

84. Of course you are!

Kewl story bro!

[GreenStormCloud]

106. Look it up.

In this thread one person has gone to the VA web site and listed the duties of a Magistrate. I then went to a legal site and found the duties that other states assign to a JP. They are the same. It is all upthread. You have lost this battle. He was essentially a JP.

You should know by now that I research stuff before I post.

[uppityperson]

76. How could you possibly know if his dad knows other people in the criminal justice system?

How could you possibly know what influence he had, what connections he had going way back?

[Rex]

81. Hey they want you to believe a magistrate ain't a judge.

That he doesn't issue warrants, summonses, bonds, let them have their little fun. Nobody seems to be fooled.

[onenote]

132. Occam's Razor

Last edited Wed Jul 24, 2013, 04:28 PM - Edit history (1)

The police botched the investigation of Zimmerman's shooting Trayvon and then did everything they could to undermine the prosecution imo.

One theory seems to be that they did this because they were under the thrall of the influence of Zimmerman's father, a man who lives in another town and who served as a "magistrate" in a state 800 miles away for 6 years and who retired from that position 7 years before Zimmerman killed Trayvon. As a "magistrate" Zimmerman's father (1) was by law not accorded the status of a judge but rather was a "judicial officer" (much the same as clerks of the court are "judicial officers); (2) had limited powers such that he could not even adjudicate a traffic ticket; (3) was paid a salary (around $35K if he was full time) that almost certainly was less than that of the Sanford Police Chief; (4) was hired and supervised by the "Executive Secretary" of the state Supreme Court; (5) not only didn't need a law degree but at the time he served, wouldn't even need to have graduated college; and (6) probably most importantly, unlike any judge anywhere in the country, served as an "at will" employee who could be fired without cause and with no notice by the Executive Secretary.

Another theory is that the police is Sanford botched the investigation and undermined the prosecution because they are incompetent, racially-biased boobs operating in an environment of institutionalized prejudice.

I'm going to go with theory number two every time. I don't think it mattered a bit who Zimmerman's daddy was. His daddy could have been a retired bus driver. The cops in Sanford were going to fall all over themselves assuming that Zimmerman was the "good guy" and Trayvon the "bad guy" because that's who they (the police in Sanford) are.

[GreenStormCloud]

139. Occam's Razor cuts cleanly through many issues. It is sharp indeed.

I think Napoleon's statement would also apply. "Never attribute to malice that which can be easily explained by incompetence."

But people must have a villain to blame, a master puppetter who is behind the scenes pulling the strings, and so they are unable to accept simple obvious explanations. So they believe in conspiracy theories.

[onenote]

69. Except a Virginia magistrate isn't a judge

Doesn't have to be a lawyer. Doesn't have any trial jurisdiction. At the time Zimmerman's dad was in that position, magistrates couldn't even handle traffic violations. And he stopped serving as a magistrate in 2006 and he lived in a different town than Sanford.

I wouldn't have started this thread and was going to stay out of it. But if you're going to double down on a claim that has been thoroughly and completely debunked -- and one that only undercuts the credibility of those raising substantial issues about the Zimmerman case -- then I'm going to respond.

[Rex]

70. See post #68.

nt.

Edit - hey it came right out of Zimmerman's mouth...but you will no doubt say that is a lie too.

[onenote]

74. Since I don't believe anything Zimmerman said, that's of no consequence to me

You apparently want to selectively believe that asshole, as is your privilege I guess.

[Rex]

77. #68

nt.

[onenote]

87. We get it. You don't have a response to the fact that the state of Virginia

officially takes the position that a "magistrate" is not a "judge" in the state. So you repeat yourself ad nauseum. Nighty-night.

[Rex]

97. Meltdown on someone else's time.

Ya bu-bye. Oh btw...kewl story bro!

[Boom Sound 416]

60. I wonder if that means Daddy couldn't help him become a cop on VA

and whatever that might mean

[McPops]

80. I was under the impression

that his dad had more credentials than he apparently did. But even if he had been a judge he wouldn't have influenced this trial to any measurable degree.

I have no problem being corrected in my understanding.

[mokawanis]

93. Then remove dad from the equation

What matters is what happened between Z and Trayvon. What matters is that Z's a slimeball who killed a kid, and it didn't need to happen.

In a few years many of us will still be bothered and upset about what Z did. Whether or not his dad was a judge won't really be part of the discussion.

[onenote]

133. Exactly.

Anyone who thinks that what Zimmerman's dad did back in Virginia had any impact on how the Sanford police treated Georgie-boy is ignoring the fact that the police acted they way they did not because of outside influence but because they are incompetent, racially-biased boobs operating in an environment of institutionalized prejudice. Zimmerman's dad could have been a retired bus driver and the police would have followed the same playbook by assuming that George was the "good guy" and Trayvon was the "bad guy" based on nothing more than the color of Trayvon's skin.

[99Forever]

96. But George Zimmerman is a scumbag...

... that got away with murder.

Anyone that defends that monster is equally a scumbag.

[GreenStormCloud]

112. I have no problem with calling Z a scumbag.

If the state had charged him with manslaughter they probably could have won the case. Once a jury decides on "not guilty" the main charge they have a strong tendency to say the same on lesser included charges. That's why it is a mistake to overcharge. Z should be in prison. I have posted many times that he should have been convicted of manslaughter. The sentence would have been the same.

But truth is also important. He father was not a Judge, and didn't have loads of influence. That is simply a fact, and those who claim he was are wrong.

[McPops]

118. They wouldn't have even bagged him on a manslaughter charge

6-0 acquittal would magically transform to 0-6? Not likely.

People have been set free with far more incriminating evidence than Zimmerman had stacked against him.

If I was the judge, I would have told the the prosecution to not even bother until you can produce at least something tangible against the accused.* When even the police won't back your scenario, what chance do you have? Why waste the court's time on a losing cause?

* And no, I am not sure judges can do that. But still.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

125. -1

[uppityperson]

120. His father had enough influence. Those who disagree with you are simply "wrong"? Huh.

What a guy you are.

[JimDandy]

137. The jury didn't follow your scenario,

as they didn't debate the charges sequentially. Everything was on the table from the start, because, according to juror B-37, the initial vote was (1) for Murder 2, (2) for manslaughter, and (3) not guilty.

How the jury worked could be important for others to know, for future trials.

[MADem]

126. In the Commonwealth of MA, Magistrates are political appointees--patronage jobs, basically.

They oversee traffic court--some of them can be crabby.

[HiPointDem]

127. however, his grandfather *was* in the foreign service... and we're not quite sure what zim's

dad did before the magistrate gig...

[NoGOPZone]

129. Were you ever a Democrat? nt

[LanternWaste]

131. And Virginia is not a state, but rather a commonwealth

And Virginia is not a state, but rather a commonwealth. I'd imagine a handful of grade school-level idiots in the playground are filled with righteous rage when others mistakenly refer to it as a state.

Now that we have all the petulant irrelevancies out of the way, please proceed...

[trumad]

135. Here is my opinion about George Zimmerman supporters...

They are racist pieces of shit.

Time 100.

[billh58]

146. +100

And then some...

[BainsBane]

147. +10000

[Lisa D]

136. It's interesting that you go out of your way to clear up any possible

negative misconceptions about Zimmerman, but I've never seen you do the same about Trayvon.

Perhaps I've must missed them. Links?

[GreenStormCloud]

143. It is progressive to hold a person's relatives guilty of the sins of that one person?

It was Z who shot TM, not his father. I have posted many times that I consider Z to be a slimeball and should have been convicted of manslaughter. I guess you missed it.

[BainsBane]

156. I have to wonder what you think progressive means?

You use it in the strangest ways. I wonder if that chicken I had for dinner last night was progressive? That's as much sense as you're making here.

[onenote]

157. I think its clearly more progressive to recognize

that the actions of the police in botching the investigation and undermining the prosecution were the product of institutionalized racism on the part of the Sanford police than it is to attribute it to some outside intervening force (such as Zimmerman's daddy), an argument that would suggest that if only Zimmerman's daddy had been a bus driver or dead for 20 years or something else, the police in Sanford would have handled this case differently.

[JPZenger]

141. I thought he was a real judge in Florida, from the way the story was played

Thanks for the clarifications.

In my state, a district justice/justice of the peace has almost no political pull, let alone someone from another state. My local justice of the peace used to be a barber.

[JustAnotherGen]

144. At this point

He can hug and kiss on little Georgie every night. Does it really matter? At least his kid isn't dead. He has nothing to whine about.

[Jamastiene]

152. Your guy got off with a not guilty verdict.

What more do you want? Jeez, get over it already.