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Zimmerman murder case: Judge denies request for gag order

spanky

spanky

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Zimmerman murder case: Judge denies request for gag order - U.S. News

A Florida judge has denied a prosecutor’s request for a gag order to prevent George Zimmerman’s attorney from posting documents and other information online.

In her two-page order Monday, Circuit Court Judge Debra Nelson wrote that she found no "overriding pattern of prejudicial commentary" and noted that a dozen media companies that had opposed the order were right when they argued that the state had failed to demonstrate prejudice.
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Not surprising.
 
Good decision
 
A ruiling released the smae day... I called this one too:

Also on Monday, Nelson released another ruling granting prosecutors fewer of Zimmerman's medical records than attorneys for Trayvon Martin's family had hoped.

They had asked for all of Zimmerman's medical records, but defense attorneys had squawked, saying that would violate Zimmerman's right to privacy. So the judge looked them over and ruled that the state could only have records she deemed relevant: those related to injuries Zimmerman suffered Feb. 26, the night he shot the unarmed 17-year-old.

"Any injuries received that night would clearly be relevant to a self-defense claim, as would any similar injuries present before that night or continuing symptoms after that night," she wrote. "Observations of the defendant's physical appearance surrounding the date of the shooting may also be relevant. However, other medical records relating to the treatment of untreated maladies should not be disclosed."

During a news conference on the courthouse lawn Oct. 19, about two hours before attorneys presented their case to the judge, family attorney Benjamin Crump called for the release of Zimmerman's prescription and mental health records.

That would be key, he said, to understanding the mind of Trayvon's killer.

The judge's ruling, though, kept those under wraps.
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Simon W. Moon said:
Weren't you upset that they were releasing info earlier this year?
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Only for the prosecutor obtaining and then issuing press packages containing legally protected confidential school records of GZ - while complying with law in regards to TM's school records. But, then the prosecutor already had committed numerous crimes in the case so why shouldn't she commit more? She's not going to have herself arrested and instead granted herself immunity from law.
 
buck said:
A ruiling released the smae day... I called this one too:
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And I called that one wrong. I know medical records are somewhat sacrosanct, but it seems to me Zs use of prescription drugs would be relevant to his state of mind the night of the shooting...particularly since the side effects of couple of them are paranoia.

Hmmm, interesting.
 
spanky said:
And I called that one wrong. I know medical records are somewhat sacrosanct, but it seems to me Zs use of prescription drugs would be relevant to his state of mind the night of the shooting...particularly since the side effects of couple of them are paranoia.

Hmmm, interesting.
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I'm liking because you admitted rather then tried to weasel.
 
buck said:
I'm liking because you admitted rather then tried to weasel.
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I call 'em as I see 'em...not how I want to see 'em.
 
spanky said:
I know medical records are somewhat sacrosanct, but it seems to me Zs use of prescription drugs would be relevant to his state of mind the night of the shooting...particularly since the side effects of couple of them are paranoia.
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There is no "particularly" to it.

Do all those taking said meds suffer these side effects? No.
Do even a slight majority (50+%) suffer these side effects? No.
Did Zimmerman exhibit any of those side effects to anyone at the time of his arrest or immediately thereafter? No.
Hell, no one really knows if he was actually taking the meds either. Just that they were prescribed.

It was nothing more than a fishing expedition.
 
Excon said:
There is no "particularly" to it.

Do all those taking said meds suffer these side effects? No.
Do even a slight majority (50+%) suffer these side effects? No.
Did Zimmerman exhibit any of those side effects to anyone at the time of his arrest or immediately thereafter? No.
Hell, no one really knows if he was actually taking the meds either. Just that they were prescribed.

It was nothing more than a fishing expedition.
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That's up to the jury to decide what's important and what isn't. Now the judge has discretion to rule what is probative and what is prejudicial, but in this instance I think he erred and may open the decision to a mistrial.

But that's just me.
 
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spanky said:
That's up to the jury to decide what's important and what isn't. Now the judge has discretion to rule what is probative and what is prejudicial, but in this instance I think he erred and may open the decision to a mistrial.

But that's just me.
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Not exactly.
And you have failed to show any reason, or give any information, that she could rule is of probative value to look into.
Which makes it a fishing expedition.

Dude, she didn't even say ok but with an In camera review. There is no probative value.
If there was evidence that Zimmerman was suffering from any of those side-effects, they most likely would have gotten their request. But there is no evidence that he was. Which is why they failed.
Mere possibility, because some people do experience said side-effects, isn't good enough.


And there isn't going to be a mistrial based on such a denial. That's ridiculous.
 
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