'It's tragic that Trayvon Martin was killed, and I believe that George Zimmerman bears moral responsibility for his death. The banners of racism that have unfurled in defense of Zimmerman repulse me. I would be damn worried about my kids if I lived in George Zimmeran's neighborhood. But ultimately I am more afraid of the state — and more afraid of a society that thinks case outcomes should depend upon collective social judgment — than I am of the George Zimmermans of the world. Critics might say that view reflects privilege, in that as an affluent white guy I am far less likely to be shot by someone like Zimmerman. Perhaps. But I am also vastly less likely to be jailed, or be the target of law enforcement abuse tolerated by social consensus. Weakening the rights of the accused — clamoring for the conviction of those we feel should be convicted — is a damnfool way to help the oppressed.'
Reshared post from +Les Jenkins
This.
The Zimmerman Verdict: Be Careful What You Wish For | Popehat
My first day as a federal prosecutor was October 3, 1995, the day O.J. Simpson was acquitted. The federal courthouse is across the street from the Criminal
I see a lot of discussion about this. Putting aside the conspiracy nuts, most sane and honest Americans feel the verdict was the wrong one but are willing to accept that because the jury trial is still an important part of civil rights. I fall into this camp, myself. I think this was a tragedy and it's something we need to revisit the laws to prevent (ie: the problems of SYG laws), but the rule of law must be upheld and the jury ruled. I will respect the jury rather than undermine the entire practice of jury trials henceforth.
What I'm less happy about is people screaming the will of the jury means that the law is fair or that Zimmerman was justified. The jury expressing a reasonable doubt about Zimmerman's need to use force at that point is not a statement on either of those questions, and the bastards interpreting it as such should be ashamed.
The double-jeopardy issue is why I won't sign any of the petitions flying around demanding the feds bring civil rights charges against him.
I do think Zimmerman was guilty of manslaughter. His following of Trayvon Martin, even after being told not to by the 911 operator, destroys any claim Zimmerman has to self-defense.
+Jeff Baker – Federal civil rights laws have historically been used in the past to bring (for example) the killers of black (and white) civil rights workers in the South to justice when the judge or jury were unconscionably unwilling to find them guilty. I'm not sure they constitute double jeopardy per se.
The difference here is that the facts of the case are not under dispute as to the law, and Zimmerman has been found not guilty based on Florida's wretched (but still constitutional) SYG law. To try him for violating civil rights would be one thing; to try him for murder, though, for doing what was legal (if of dubious morality) strikes me as problematic.