Defense: Zimmerman judge biased

[CatWoman]

Defense attorney Mark O’Mara has asked the judge in the case to recuse himself, saying he has made biased comments in a bond ruling.

Citing bias and a “morally indignant tone,” George Zimmerman’s defense attorney has asked the judge on the case to disqualify himself.

The judge has shown bias and made disparaging remarks about Zimmerman, attorney Mark O’Mara said in a motion Friday, adding his client “no longer has faith” that he can get a fair trial in his court.

Seminole County Circuit Judge Kenneth R. Lester issued a scathing ruling last week when he set bond for Zimmerman at $1 million. The judge suggested Zimmerman was guilty of other crimes when he misled the court about money he had raised online and said that it appeared as if Zimmerman had been getting ready to run. O’Mara said the judge came to unsupported conclusions and ignored anything that went in Zimmerman’s favor, such as that he turned the money over to his attorney and suffered injuries at the hands of Miami Gardens teenager Trayvon Martin.

“This court has already formed a negative opinion of Mr. Zimmerman that Mr. Zimmerman fears would carry over,” to a self defense immunity hearing in the future, O’Mara wrote.

Prosecutors said they object to O’Mara’s motion, and will do so in writing on Monday. The decision will ultimately be made by the judge himself.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/07/13/2894366/judge-orders-release-of-witness.html#moreb#storylink=cpy

[JI7]

1. he lied, what was the judge supposed to do ? ignore it ?

[CatWoman]

2. thank you

that's all to be said.

[grasswire]

3. morally indignant tone?

Pfffft.

O'Mara apparently has never watched Judge Judy.

[vaberella]

10. Or Judge Joe Brown...that guy has his verdict before he even comes into the scene.

The point is, judges are allowed an opinion and as humans they have one. However, unfortunately, Zimmerman lying in a court of law is already making him a less than credible person. Every judge will judge him on those actions. Apparently there are also only a few judges, if I remember 6 of them. That only leaves two judges if this guy steps down because the others are in some way connected to O'Mara and or Zimmerman.

[ArcticFox]

4. Heard that on the radio Friday

Wonder if the judge will believe Zimmerman?

Where would that leave us if all a defendant had to do to get a new judge was to perjure himself?

Any negative opinion of Mr. Zimmerman would seem to be well-earned.

[Spazito]

5. Geez, this is the reason he should be removed?

"...ignored anything that went in Zimmerman’s favor, such as that he turned the money over to his attorney and suffered injuries at the hands of Miami Gardens teenager Trayvon Martin."

Uh huh. He turned the money over to his lawyer AFTER he was caught trying to hide it along with a second passport. There is only Zimmerman's word he suffered injuries at the hands of Trayvon Martin and, well, see my first point as to Zimmerman's believability on anything.

The injuries, regardless of how Zimmerman 'got' them has NOTHING to do with a bail hearing whereas trying to hide hundreds of thousands of dollars along with a second passport and NOT handing both over until AFTER being caught doing the hiding ARE issues related to bail, etc.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. Come on, everyone should have seen this one coming after the 2nd round of the bail hearings

In the end the judge will step down, though most likely for a procedural reason so that everyone can save face.

[vaberella]

8. What if he doesn't? Florida is a strange State. n/t

[Spazito]

9. Actually, I see this as pro-forma on the defence's part...

and I certainly hope the Judge doesn't step down. It is not the Judge that will be deciding Zimmerman's fate, it will be a jury.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

14. So the judge is just a potted plant?

The judge will certainly impact the trial. To remove any doubt about that, I give you Judge Ito.

If he had been more reserved, he would not had given the defense this opening...

[Spazito]

16. It is what the Judge does during the trial that has impact...

the trial has yet to begin.

If this Judge were to act like Ito then a request for a change would have merit, until then the request by the defence for the change IS pro-forma and, adding to that, the reasons given by the defence are nonsensical.

[vaberella]

7. Question...does anyone think that the Judge will recuse himself?

This is ridiculous. The man did lie in the court room.

[rocktivity]

11. Hands up who DIDN'T see this coming

Last edited Sun Jul 15, 2012, 01:25 AM - Edit history (3)

I did, over a month ago:

I believe the judge is being more lenient about the passports because he is either far more pissed off about the money, or because he doesn't want it to appear that he's gunning for Zimmerman -- if you'll pardon the expression!
link

rocktivity

[ProgressiveProfessor]

15. Many apparently

[jade3000]

12. ridiculous

did he actually ask the judge to be removed because "This court has already formed a negative opinion of Mr. Zimmerman." um, zimmerman and his wife lied to and deceived the court. of course that produced a negative opinion. that doesn't mean he should be removed. absurd.

[LiberalFighter]

13. The attorney has a twisted view of right and wrong.

Would love to see Governor Scott try to appoint him to a judge position.