walking while black - Trayvon Martin

[Jimbone]

Thanks for explaining, Jim.

The potential jurors were asked about their fears of public backlash in voir dire. Many potential jurors were dismissed based on their response to that question...

*snip for space*

...In any event, I don't think they'll be any riots regardless of the verdict. It's not a cut and dry case and those who are that passionate about it can see what we're seeing at trial.

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

Believe what you want... I'm not hedging on anything.

So there was this case I know of... gang banger misidentified a car coming down the street, shot it up, and killed two innocent kids in the car. Case goes to trial, 1^st degree murder charge... jury gets empaneled, knows it's a death penalty case, listens intently throughout the trial. They see the victim families in the courtroom. They see the defendant and his supporters as well. They find him guilty of 1^st degree murder... then they have to decide on the death penalty. Going into it, they were in favor of the death penalty because it was a horrible crime.

During deliberation about the penalty phase, a juror points out to the other jurors that their names will be publicly available... and that they all have to sign the document. That same juror points out the gang supporters who have showed up in court everyday will have access to that, and points out instances in the past of retaliation in other cases where gang members have gotten the death penalty.

That's all it took. The room turned, and life without parole was the decision.

A jury of 12 decent people make a decision based on bias and fear, despite promising it wouldn't affect them and swearing the oath. You can't take their reality out of the situation, and you can't assume that one person can't sway the rest.

We'll see soon!