08-13-2012, 11:14 PM
this makes strategy somewhat clearer
SANFORD news13
Will he stay, or will he go?
Judge Kenneth Lester has said he will not step down from the case against George Zimmerman, because there is no conflict of interest.
But Zimmerman's defense team says that's not true.
Monday, attorney Mark O'Mara announced he has filed an appeal to get Lester taken off the case of second-degree murder against Zimmerman, who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in February.
O'Mara had filed an earlier motion asking Lester step down, but the judge refused.
Our legal analyst, Central Florida attorney Joy Ragan, said O'Mara does not think Zimmerman can get a fair trial under Lester, because his client has damaged credibility.
"That's why Mr. O'Mara is going to these extraordinary measures to get the judge off the case," said Ragan. "I think that he really believes that the 'Stand Your Ground' motion is damaged by what his client has done."
![[Image: 1344902835966.jpg]](http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/articles/cfn/2012/8/13/zimmerman_appeal_to_/_jcr_content/contentpar/articleBody/image.img.jpg/1344902835966.jpg)
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OS --OH SHIT! not happening O'Mara! he's in deep shit now. peoples' sympathy for wasted monies is exhausted i think. O'Mara should have cut his loses with this client. not worth it for the publicity. he already has a good rep/ so far. he does not need a high-profile case to cement his cred. it may damage it instead.
ORLANDO SENTINEL.
Murder suspect George Zimmerman, whose plight prompted thousands of well-wishers to donate a flood of money — more than a collective $250,000 — is nearly broke, his lawyer said Monday, and plans to ask the public to pay for his defense.
"He really has to live as a hermit, unfortunately," said Mark O'Mara. "He's not doing well. He's getting by."
His legal-defense fund, which once hovered around $210,000, now has a balance of $50,000, O'Mara said Monday, with about $20,000 in outstanding bills.
Zimmerman and his wife, Shellie, are out of work, living in hiding in Seminole County, and spending a great deal of money on security because they fear for their lives, O'Mara said.
"Seminole County is unquestionably the most dangerous county, most expensive county for him to be in," O'Mara said.
He intends to ask the court to declare Zimmerman indigent, an official finding that the 28-year-old Sanford man is broke and needs the public to pay his legal expenses.
Zimmerman also will ask a judge to let him move out of the county, O'Mara said Monday.
"I want him safe. If he's out of state, so be it," O'Mara said.
The request to be declared indigent will be an awkward one, coming from Zimmerman and O'Mara.
SANFORD news13
Will he stay, or will he go?
Judge Kenneth Lester has said he will not step down from the case against George Zimmerman, because there is no conflict of interest.
But Zimmerman's defense team says that's not true.
Monday, attorney Mark O'Mara announced he has filed an appeal to get Lester taken off the case of second-degree murder against Zimmerman, who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in February.
O'Mara had filed an earlier motion asking Lester step down, but the judge refused.
Our legal analyst, Central Florida attorney Joy Ragan, said O'Mara does not think Zimmerman can get a fair trial under Lester, because his client has damaged credibility.
"That's why Mr. O'Mara is going to these extraordinary measures to get the judge off the case," said Ragan. "I think that he really believes that the 'Stand Your Ground' motion is damaged by what his client has done."
------------------------------------------------
OS --OH SHIT! not happening O'Mara! he's in deep shit now. peoples' sympathy for wasted monies is exhausted i think. O'Mara should have cut his loses with this client. not worth it for the publicity. he already has a good rep/ so far. he does not need a high-profile case to cement his cred. it may damage it instead.
ORLANDO SENTINEL.
Murder suspect George Zimmerman, whose plight prompted thousands of well-wishers to donate a flood of money — more than a collective $250,000 — is nearly broke, his lawyer said Monday, and plans to ask the public to pay for his defense.
"He really has to live as a hermit, unfortunately," said Mark O'Mara. "He's not doing well. He's getting by."
His legal-defense fund, which once hovered around $210,000, now has a balance of $50,000, O'Mara said Monday, with about $20,000 in outstanding bills.
Zimmerman and his wife, Shellie, are out of work, living in hiding in Seminole County, and spending a great deal of money on security because they fear for their lives, O'Mara said.
"Seminole County is unquestionably the most dangerous county, most expensive county for him to be in," O'Mara said.
He intends to ask the court to declare Zimmerman indigent, an official finding that the 28-year-old Sanford man is broke and needs the public to pay his legal expenses.
Zimmerman also will ask a judge to let him move out of the county, O'Mara said Monday.
"I want him safe. If he's out of state, so be it," O'Mara said.
The request to be declared indigent will be an awkward one, coming from Zimmerman and O'Mara.