An earlier LegalSpeaks article on What’s Next for George Zimmerman, argued that Zimmerman’s wife, Shellie, should be charged with perjury for lying under oath about the family's finances for bail. Her testimony was that the family did not have funds, despite knowing about $135,000 in a special fund that was raised for his defense. The Special Prosecutor saw fit to charge Shellie Zimmerman for lying under oath about her husband’s finances. Her Statement of Charges is set forth here in Shellie Zimmerman Charging Document. LegalSpeaks June 3, 2012 article stated that Shellie Zimmerman should be charged with perjury after her husband’s bail hearing on June 29. The prosecutor decided that there was no reason to delay the filing of perjury charges. The prosecutor in filing an earlier motion to revoke the bail for George Zimmerman called the actions of the Zimmermans "a blatant lie". The Zimmermans led the Court to believe that they didn't have a dime to their … [Read more...] about George Zimmerman’s Wife is Facing Perjury for “Blatant Lie”
Archives for June 2012
Will A Penn State Jury Put the Sandusky Victims On Trial?
A jury of 7 women and 5 men, with 7 jurors having ties to Penn State, has been selected to hear the Penn state sex abuse trial of former Penn State coaching assistant, Jerry Sandusky. Sandusky faces 52 counts for sexual abuse and pedophile acts on 10 boys over a 15 year period while coaching at Penn State. At least, seven of the victims, now adults, are expected to testify. The victims, like many other sex abuse and rape victims, may also be on trial too. The prosecutor lost the battle to have the names of the victims shielded or their identity hidden. The victims will be allowed to walk through a tent without having the walk through the gauntlet of reporters and media, when they enter the court house. Once inside the court room, they will be faced with their own mini trial. Unfortunately, in all sexual abuse or rape cases, where there is no DNA evidence, the evidence rests solely on the credibility of the witnesses. And so the victims, now adults, will be aggressively … [Read more...] about Will A Penn State Jury Put the Sandusky Victims On Trial?
Does Stand Your Ground Mean Getting Away With Murder?
A Texas man, on trial now for killing his neighbor, is invoking the Stand Your Ground defense after calling a 911 dispatcher while starting an argument with a neighbor over a noise complaint. The neighbor, a public school teacher was shot and killed by the defendant, Paul Rodriguez, while he was unarmed. Prosecutors allege that the defendant learned the buzz words to say to assert the defense during a self -defense class. Texas has a Stand Your Ground law similar to the Florida law being invoked by George Zimmerman in the killing of Trayvon Martin. It’s ironic that Texas and Florida while known for being aggressive states against crime, now seem to be lessening their grip on violent gun crimes and murders, to protect gun owners. Guns and 2nd amendment rights are becoming at odds with combating violent gun crime. Some defendants appear to be concocting the defense to fit their purpose—to avoid being held accountable for their crimes. The Texas trial of Paul Rodriguez and … [Read more...] about Does Stand Your Ground Mean Getting Away With Murder?
Will Penn State Jurors Convict Sandusky?
The Penn State sex abuse trial of former athletic coach, Jerry Sandusky, is under way in Centre County, PA with seven of the jurors having significant ties to Penn State University. Jerry Sandusky and his attorney, Joe Amendola, have been all smiles and grins as they enter the court house each day. And Jerry Sandusky has been seen laughing at some of Judge John Cleland’s jokes to the jury panel. The defense won a big hurdle by having the right to have jurors chosen from the local community of Centre County, which is the same as Penn State. The court house in Bellefonte, PA is located 10 miles from the college. While the prosecutors had concerns about the jurors coming from Centre County, the judge did not agree. After all, one is entitled to be tried by a jury of their peers as Sandusky deserved and argued. And so the peers on the jury panel will have significant ties to Penn State, where Sandusky is alleged to have performed some of his sex acts on children. It looks like the … [Read more...] about Will Penn State Jurors Convict Sandusky?
Why Zimmerman’s Lawyer Delays Bail Review Request
In what seems like an unusual move, George Zimmerman’s lawyer plans to delay a request for a bail hearing for two weeks for undisclosed reasons. Mark O’Mara, while failing to disclose a reason for the delay in filing the motion for a bail review hearing, did provide reasons for his client’s failure to be truthful with the court about his finances in the first bail hearing. Mark O’Mara, in his web site said: "We feel the failure to disclose these funds was caused by fear, mistrust, and confusion. The gravity of this mistake has been distinctly illustrated, and Mr. Zimmerman understands that this mistake has undermined his credibility, which he will have to work to repair.” I agree that Zimmerman’s failure to disclose the $135,000 funds was based on fear, mistrust and confusion. Zimmerman feared that he would be given a high bail if the funds were revealed. He feared that he would have to forego funds intended for his legal defense and give to a bail bondsman. If Judge Kenneth … [Read more...] about Why Zimmerman’s Lawyer Delays Bail Review Request
Why Can’t We Pass the Paycheck Fairness Act?
The Pay Check Fairness Act, introduced to make a woman’s pay equal to a man’s for same job and same qualifications, seems like it would be easy to get passed. The purpose is to close the loop holes and allow women to be on the same pay playing field as men. The bill comes up for a cloture vote on Tuesday, June 5. It will be a test of the Republicans’ effort on cooperation since last week’s jobs reports. While many Republicans will say that this is not an economic issue, nothing is farther from the truth. Women earn 77 cents for every dollar a man earns for the same job and same skills. And African American women earn 64 cents for every dollar a man earns. Latino women earn 56 cents to the dollar a man earns. These figures are for women in all jobs and educational levels. The disparity in pay begins for college educated women immediately after graduation. Post graduate women fare no better than their less educated counter parts. As a lawyer, I know firsthand that women earn … [Read more...] about Why Can’t We Pass the Paycheck Fairness Act?