When attorneys questioned him Wednesday, Counelis insisted
he had no opinion about Zimmerman's guilt. But when Circuit Judge Debra S.
Nelson handed him a sheet of paper and asked if on March 21, 2012, he'd written
and posted on Facebook what was on that paper. He read it, looked up and said,
"Yes."
A deputy then escorted him from the courtroom, and the judge
said nothing more about the post.
But several news organizations reported the post in question
was a caustic diatribe critical of the Sanford Police Department and its
handling of the investigation into Trayvon Martin's death.
Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara, told reporters after
court Friday that those who attempt to join a jury with preconceived notions of
a defendant's guilt or innocence are "unbelievably dangerous" to the
criminal-justice system.
According to a Seminole County Sheriff's Office trespass
warning report, Counelis went to the courthouse at about 1:15 p.m. Friday to
express concern about his privacy and animosity regarding the way he was
treated during the jury-selection process.
A court deputy referred Counelis to the clerk's office if he
had a complaint. At that point, Sheriff's Office documents show, Counelis
walked into the foyer outside the jury assembly room where other potential
jurors waited to be interviewed by state prosecutors and Zimmerman's defense.
When deputies asked Counelis to leave, the warning report
says, he pointed to the door of the assembly room and said, "Do they know
what they are in for!"
Counelis was escorted out of the courthouse and told he
cannot return until the Zimmerman trial ends unless he has official court
business. If he violates that order, Counelis could be arrested.
Zimmerman Potential Juror Dismissed And Escorted
A potential juror in the George Zimmerman trial who was
dismissed earlier in the week over a Facebook post has been escorted from the
Seminole County Criminal Justice Center after showing back up to the courthouse
Friday.
Juror E-7 was dismissed Wednesday after it was discovered
that he bashed the Sanford Police Department on Facebook in support of Trayvon
Martin.
The dismissed juror, identified as Jerry P. Counelis, was
surrounded by several law enforcement officers Friday as he was escorted off
the property for trespassing.
A screen shot released by the Seminole County Sheriff's
Office showed Counelis posted the following comment on Facebook to a link to a
pro-Trayvon Martin website:
"..... In Sanford ... & I CAN tell you THIS.
'Justice' IS Coming! ... & I'll tell you why. The ONLY reason this corrupt
City Police dept. was stonewalling was because since they KNOWINGLY worked with
this Self-appointed 'Neighborhood Watch' Security ... & KNEW he carried a
weapon ... They knew they AND the Homeowners Association were Liable for HUGE
$$$ damages in court ... MINUTES after the shooting occurred. But with the noise
WE made ... it couldn't be covered up. I only hope the Feds go farther than
just THIS case in investigating This 'Police Force.' The Seminole County
'Justice' System needs an ENEMA ... & they just MIGHT GET one!"
The comment was made on a page on Facebook called Coffee
Party Progressives.
Why jury selection for the Zimmerman trial is a lot like
the NFL draft
Jury selection began this week in the George Zimmerman
second-degree murder trial of 17- year old Trayvon Martin. Over the course of
three weeks, prosecutors and defense attorneys will whittle their way through
hundreds of prospective jurors in a collective effort to choose just six jurors
and four alternates.
This is not a “who done it” trial, like that of O.J. Simpson
or Casey Anthony. There is no dispute Mr. Zimmerman shot and killed Mr. Martin
in a central Florida neighborhood on the night of February 28, 2012.
Rather, this case is about whether Mr. Zimmerman’s actions
were legal. His position is that he only acted in self-defense after Mr. Martin
physically attacked him.
This defense hinges upon a Florida law that allowed him to
stand his ground and meet force with force, including deadly force, if he
reasonably believed it was necessary to do so to prevent great bodily harm to
himself.
Jury selection is strategy. It is just as important, if not
more important, than the facts and arguments that will be presented at the
trial
Jury selection is much like an NFL draft. A team’s decision
on whether to pick a player revolves around his skill, his personality, and
whether he can help the team win. But there are no guarantees. A team may think
it scored the best player of the draft, only to learn the player is a bust.
(Ryan Leaf is a name that comes to mind.)
The defense and prosecution are also teams. Through the jury
selection process, legally referred to as voir dire, attorneys will “strike”
potential jurors they believe will not vote in their favor and will attempt to
seat a juror they believe is sellable on their position. They cannot be sure of
a juror's ultimate decision but they can certainly attempt to make the best
picks.
Jury selection is an interview process. The best way to
learn about the juror is to ask the person about his feelings on issues that
are likely to arise in the case.
The death of Trayvon Martin was greatly publicized. Aside
from media attention, it also sparked emotionally charged debates -- from race
relations, gun ownership, self-defense, youth culture/fashion, and politics. As
a result, jury selection strategy should focus heavily on potential jurors’
feelings and beliefs.
Let’s take a look at some of the prospective jurors:
Juror N-18 is a Puerto Rican male whose native tongue is
Spanish. He stated that he heard about the case on the news but does not have
Internet nor does he read newspapers. He only reads the Bible. He also stated
that he believed Mr. Zimmerman to be guilty but that he could put his opinion
aside and listen to the evidence.
On one hand, Juror N-18 may be pro-defense because Mr.
Zimmerman is also a male of Hispanic descent and he saw photographs of a “hurt”
Mr. Zimmerman. On the other hand, he may be pro-prosecution because he stated
that he believes Mr. Zimmerman is guilty and he believes in the Ten
Commandments, that “thou shall not kill.”
On Day 1, a woman with seven children and a grandmother were
questioned. The women may be pro-prosecution because an unarmed, 17-year old
represents one of their children or grandchildren. A man, who stated he listens
to National Public Radio, may also be pro-prosecution because his choice in
radio news may reveal that he has a more liberal mind.
On Day 2 of jury selection, both a man and a woman expressed
fear for their safety following a verdict. Their fears may be related to deeper
psychological issues with regard to violent crimes. This is a violent crime
case with a defense that involves the defendant’s alleged fear for his life.
These prospective jurors may be pro-defense because they can relate to Mr.
Zimmerman’s fears.
Jury selection is strategy. It is just as important, if not
more important, than the facts and arguments that will be presented at the
trial. The wrong “pick” can lead to a losing team but the right “pick” can
result in a winning verdict.
Potential Zimmerman juror expresses safety concerns
A potential juror in the George Zimmerman second-degree
murder trial in Florida expressed fear Wednesday that she could be the victim
of violence if picked for the trial, indicating that tensions are still running
high in the community after Zimmerman shot 17-year old high school student
Trayvon Martin last year.
Many of the potential jurors interviewed Wednesday morning
on the third day of jury selection in the trial knew about the circumstances
surrounding the highly-publicized shooting, and some had already developed
fears or concerns.
A woman in her mid-twenties reportedly expressed fear for
her safety if selected for the jury. A woman in her fifties also said that she
didn’t like the negative media coverage Sanford, Florida received after the
shooting.
“My impressions are we should look at the crime — I don’t
think it’s a racial issue,” said one potential female juror who has watched
coverage of the case on Good Morning America.
A potential male juror noted that “maybe [Zimmerman] thought
he was doing the right thing.”
In accordance with Florida law, the jury will be composed of
only six jurors.
Zimmerman, a half-white, half-Latino neighborhood watchman,
stands trial this summer for second-degree murder after shooting Martin,
purportedly in self-defense. Zimmerman claimed that Martin jumped him, pounded
his head against the pavement, pummeled him with fists, and reached for
Zimmerman’s gun, prompting Zimmerman to shoot and kill him. The case gained
wide media attention and prompted threats of further violence in 2012, with The
New Black Panthers offering a $10,000 bounty for Zimmerman’s capture.
How long does it typically take to choose a jury?
Friday marked the fifth day in the jury selection process
for the trial of George Zimmerman. Zimmerman has been charged with
second-degree murder for the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on February
26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida. He claims he shot the unarmed teen in
self-defense.
On Thursday, 11 prospective jurors were interviewed at
Seminole County Court in Sanford, Florida. Six jurors and four alternate jurors
will ultimately be selected. Judge Debra Nelson announced on Thursday, June 13,
that all jurors chosen will be sequestered. Court officials estimate that the trial
will last two to four weeks. Jurors selected will stay in a hotel until the
trial begins, and they will have limited contact with the outside world until
it is time for them to appear in the courtroom.
Some potential jurors have already expressed concern
about how being a part of the Zimmerman jury could impact their lives. In past
high-profile cases, jury selection has taken anywhere from one day to five
months. In the case of former Enron executives Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey
Skilling, the jury was chosen in a single day. In the highly publicized O.J.
Simpson trial, it took more than a month to select the jury, and in the case of
Joshua Komisarjevsky, who was involved in a Connecticut home invasion that
resulted in the murder of a mother and her two daughters, jury selection took
five months.
LENGTH OF JURY SELECTION
How long did it take to pick juries in various trials?
CA V. OJ SIMPSON
·
First-degree murder
· More
than one month
CA V. SCOTT PETERSON
· First-degree
murder (death penalty)
· 12
weeks
CT V. JOSHUA KOMISARJEVSKY
·
First-degree murder (death penalty)
· 5
months
ME V. MARK STRONG SR.
·
Promoting prostitution
· 4 days
(over 4 weeks)
FL V. CASEY ANTHONY
·
First-degree murder
· 2 weeks
FL V. LUIS CABALLERO
·
First-degree murder (death penalty)
· 2 weeks
Sequestered jurors in Zimmerman trial will have limited
access to families, outside news
(Orlando Sentinel, Jacob Langston/Pool/ Associated Press
) - George Zimmerman listens during jury selection in Seminole circuit court on
the fourth day of his trial, in Sanford, Fla., Thursday, June 13, 2013.
Zimmerman has been charged with second-degree murder for the 2012 shooting
death of Trayvon Martin.
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By Associated Press, Published: June 13 | Updated:
Friday, June 14, 6:02 AM
SANFORD, Fla. — The six jurors and four alternates who
eventually will decide whether George Zimmerman committed murder when he
fatally shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin will have limited contact with the
outside world during the two weeks to a month it will take to hold the trial.
Circuit Judge Debra Nelson said for the first time
Thursday that jurors picked for Zimmerman’s second-degree murder trial will be
sequestered. They will have limited contact with their families, they will
spend the night at a hotel and their actions will be monitored by court
security outside the courtroom during the duration of the trial. Prosecutors
and defense attorneys resume their fifth day of jury selection Friday.
“You would not be able to participate in day-to-day
routine activities,” defense attorney Don West told one potential juror.
Some potential jurors have been wary of the prospect of
being cut off from the world during the trial.
Jury candidate K-80, a middle-aged white woman, described
sequestration Thursday as “my biggest fear.” Jurors are only referred to by
their jury numbers in court to protect their identities.
Juror E-81, a middle-aged white woman, said when she saw
the word “sequester” on the questionnaire in the jury room, “the walls caved
in.”
“I want to sleep in my own bed,” she said. The potential
juror also worried about her safety if picked, saying “I’m going to walk out of
here with a bulls-eye on me.”
The jury candidate appeared to already have made up her
mind about the case, decreasing her chances of being picked. Her impression was
that Martin’s prior use of marijuana and an image of a gun found on his cell
phone were indications that “he was going down the wrong path.” She also said
she believed Zimmerman was just “looking after his neighborhood.”
“I believe every American has a right to defend himself,”
said Juror E-81. “I think the more people armed, the better.”
Potential juror B-67, a Hispanic female in her 40s, was
allowed to leave courtroom without being questioned by defense attorneys after
she said being sequestered would be a hardship with her family and school
commitments.
Zimmerman, a 29-year-old former neighborhood watch
volunteer, is pleading not guilty to second-degree murder, claiming he shot an
unarmed Martin in self-defense. A 44-day delay in Zimmerman’s arrest led to
protests around the nation. They questioned whether the Sanford Police
Department was investigating the case seriously since Martin was a black teen
from the Miami area. Zimmerman identifies himself as Hispanic.
Attorneys need to find six jurors and four alternates. In
Florida, 12 jurors are required only for criminal trials involving capital
cases, when the death penalty is being considered.
Dismissed Zimmerman juror banned from Seminole courthouse
June 14, 2013|By Desiree Stennett, Orlando Sentinel
A dismissed juror in George Zimmerman's second-degree-murder
case had to be escorted out of the courthouse and has been prohibited from
returning to the Seminole County Criminal Justice Center until the trial ends.
Jerry Patrick Counelis is former prospective juror E-7, a
middle-aged white man who described himself as an out-of-work musician and
painter.
Counelis, who appeared eager to serve on the jury, saying he
could withstand weeks of lost income despite being behind on his rent, was
dismissed as a potential juror Wednesday.
When attorneys questioned him Wednesday, Counelis insisted
he had no opinion about Zimmerman's guilt. But when Circuit Judge Debra S.
Nelson handed him a sheet of paper and asked if on March 21, 2012, he'd written
and posted on Facebook what was on that paper. He read it, looked up and said,
"Yes."
A deputy then escorted him from the courtroom, and the judge
said nothing more about the post.
But several news organizations reported the post in question
was a caustic diatribe critical of the Sanford Police Department and its
handling of the investigation into Trayvon Martin's death.
Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara, told reporters after
court Friday that those who attempt to join a jury with preconceived notions of
a defendant's guilt or innocence are "unbelievably dangerous" to the
criminal-justice system.
According to a Seminole County Sheriff's Office trespass
warning report, Counelis went to the courthouse at about 1:15 p.m. Friday to
express concern about his privacy and animosity regarding the way he was
treated during the jury-selection process.
A court deputy referred Counelis to the clerk's office if he
had a complaint. At that point, Sheriff's Office documents show, Counelis
walked into the foyer outside the jury assembly room where other potential
jurors waited to be interviewed by state prosecutors and Zimmerman's defense.
When deputies asked Counelis to leave, the warning report
says, he pointed to the door of the assembly room and said, "Do they know
what they are in for!"
Counelis was escorted out of the courthouse and told he
cannot return until the Zimmerman trial ends unless he has official court
business. If he violates that order, Counelis could be arrested.
Zimmerman Potential Juror Dismissed And Escorted
A potential juror in the George Zimmerman trial who was
dismissed earlier in the week over a Facebook post has been escorted from the
Seminole County Criminal Justice Center after showing back up to the courthouse
Friday.
Juror E-7 was dismissed Wednesday after it was discovered
that he bashed the Sanford Police Department on Facebook in support of Trayvon
Martin.
The dismissed juror, identified as Jerry P. Counelis, was
surrounded by several law enforcement officers Friday as he was escorted off
the property for trespassing.
A screen shot released by the Seminole County Sheriff's
Office showed Counelis posted the following comment on Facebook to a link to a
pro-Trayvon Martin website:
"..... In Sanford ... & I CAN tell you THIS.
'Justice' IS Coming! ... & I'll tell you why. The ONLY reason this corrupt
City Police dept. was stonewalling was because since they KNOWINGLY worked with
this Self-appointed 'Neighborhood Watch' Security ... & KNEW he carried a
weapon ... They knew they AND the Homeowners Association were Liable for HUGE
$$$ damages in court ... MINUTES after the shooting occurred. But with the noise
WE made ... it couldn't be covered up. I only hope the Feds go farther than
just THIS case in investigating This 'Police Force.' The Seminole County
'Justice' System needs an ENEMA ... & they just MIGHT GET one!"
The comment was made on a page on Facebook called Coffee
Party Progressives.
Why jury selection for the Zimmerman trial is a lot like
the NFL draft
Jury selection began this week in the George Zimmerman
second-degree murder trial of 17- year old Trayvon Martin. Over the course of
three weeks, prosecutors and defense attorneys will whittle their way through
hundreds of prospective jurors in a collective effort to choose just six jurors
and four alternates.
This is not a “who done it” trial, like that of O.J. Simpson
or Casey Anthony. There is no dispute Mr. Zimmerman shot and killed Mr. Martin
in a central Florida neighborhood on the night of February 28, 2012.
Rather, this case is about whether Mr. Zimmerman’s actions
were legal. His position is that he only acted in self-defense after Mr. Martin
physically attacked him.
This defense hinges upon a Florida law that allowed him to
stand his ground and meet force with force, including deadly force, if he
reasonably believed it was necessary to do so to prevent great bodily harm to
himself.
Jury selection is strategy. It is just as important, if not
more important, than the facts and arguments that will be presented at the
trial
Jury selection is much like an NFL draft. A team’s decision
on whether to pick a player revolves around his skill, his personality, and
whether he can help the team win. But there are no guarantees. A team may think
it scored the best player of the draft, only to learn the player is a bust.
(Ryan Leaf is a name that comes to mind.)
The defense and prosecution are also teams. Through the jury
selection process, legally referred to as voir dire, attorneys will “strike”
potential jurors they believe will not vote in their favor and will attempt to
seat a juror they believe is sellable on their position. They cannot be sure of
a juror's ultimate decision but they can certainly attempt to make the best
picks.
Jury selection is an interview process. The best way to
learn about the juror is to ask the person about his feelings on issues that
are likely to arise in the case.
The death of Trayvon Martin was greatly publicized. Aside
from media attention, it also sparked emotionally charged debates -- from race
relations, gun ownership, self-defense, youth culture/fashion, and politics. As
a result, jury selection strategy should focus heavily on potential jurors’
feelings and beliefs.
Let’s take a look at some of the prospective jurors:
Juror N-18 is a Puerto Rican male whose native tongue is
Spanish. He stated that he heard about the case on the news but does not have
Internet nor does he read newspapers. He only reads the Bible. He also stated
that he believed Mr. Zimmerman to be guilty but that he could put his opinion
aside and listen to the evidence.
On one hand, Juror N-18 may be pro-defense because Mr.
Zimmerman is also a male of Hispanic descent and he saw photographs of a “hurt”
Mr. Zimmerman. On the other hand, he may be pro-prosecution because he stated
that he believes Mr. Zimmerman is guilty and he believes in the Ten
Commandments, that “thou shall not kill.”
On Day 1, a woman with seven children and a grandmother were
questioned. The women may be pro-prosecution because an unarmed, 17-year old
represents one of their children or grandchildren. A man, who stated he listens
to National Public Radio, may also be pro-prosecution because his choice in
radio news may reveal that he has a more liberal mind.
On Day 2 of jury selection, both a man and a woman expressed
fear for their safety following a verdict. Their fears may be related to deeper
psychological issues with regard to violent crimes. This is a violent crime
case with a defense that involves the defendant’s alleged fear for his life.
These prospective jurors may be pro-defense because they can relate to Mr.
Zimmerman’s fears.
Jury selection is strategy. It is just as important, if not
more important, than the facts and arguments that will be presented at the
trial. The wrong “pick” can lead to a losing team but the right “pick” can
result in a winning verdict.
Potential Zimmerman juror expresses safety concerns
A potential juror in the George Zimmerman second-degree
murder trial in Florida expressed fear Wednesday that she could be the victim
of violence if picked for the trial, indicating that tensions are still running
high in the community after Zimmerman shot 17-year old high school student
Trayvon Martin last year.
Many of the potential jurors interviewed Wednesday morning
on the third day of jury selection in the trial knew about the circumstances
surrounding the highly-publicized shooting, and some had already developed
fears or concerns.
A woman in her mid-twenties reportedly expressed fear for
her safety if selected for the jury. A woman in her fifties also said that she
didn’t like the negative media coverage Sanford, Florida received after the
shooting.
“My impressions are we should look at the crime — I don’t
think it’s a racial issue,” said one potential female juror who has watched
coverage of the case on Good Morning America.
A potential male juror noted that “maybe [Zimmerman] thought
he was doing the right thing.”
In accordance with Florida law, the jury will be composed of
only six jurors.
Zimmerman, a half-white, half-Latino neighborhood watchman,
stands trial this summer for second-degree murder after shooting Martin,
purportedly in self-defense. Zimmerman claimed that Martin jumped him, pounded
his head against the pavement, pummeled him with fists, and reached for
Zimmerman’s gun, prompting Zimmerman to shoot and kill him. The case gained
wide media attention and prompted threats of further violence in 2012, with The
New Black Panthers offering a $10,000 bounty for Zimmerman’s capture.
How long does it typically take to choose a jury?
Friday marked the fifth day in the jury selection process
for the trial of George Zimmerman. Zimmerman has been charged with
second-degree murder for the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on February
26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida. He claims he shot the unarmed teen in
self-defense.
On Thursday, 11 prospective jurors were interviewed at
Seminole County Court in Sanford, Florida. Six jurors and four alternate jurors
will ultimately be selected. Judge Debra Nelson announced on Thursday, June 13,
that all jurors chosen will be sequestered. Court officials estimate that the trial
will last two to four weeks. Jurors selected will stay in a hotel until the
trial begins, and they will have limited contact with the outside world until
it is time for them to appear in the courtroom.
Some potential jurors have already expressed concern
about how being a part of the Zimmerman jury could impact their lives. In past
high-profile cases, jury selection has taken anywhere from one day to five
months. In the case of former Enron executives Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey
Skilling, the jury was chosen in a single day. In the highly publicized O.J.
Simpson trial, it took more than a month to select the jury, and in the case of
Joshua Komisarjevsky, who was involved in a Connecticut home invasion that
resulted in the murder of a mother and her two daughters, jury selection took
five months.
LENGTH OF JURY SELECTION
How long did it take to pick juries in various trials?
CA V. OJ SIMPSON
·
First-degree murder
· More
than one month
CA V. SCOTT PETERSON
· First-degree
murder (death penalty)
· 12
weeks
CT V. JOSHUA KOMISARJEVSKY
·
First-degree murder (death penalty)
· 5
months
ME V. MARK STRONG SR.
·
Promoting prostitution
· 4 days
(over 4 weeks)
FL V. CASEY ANTHONY
·
First-degree murder
· 2 weeks
FL V. LUIS CABALLERO
·
First-degree murder (death penalty)
· 2 weeks
Sequestered jurors in Zimmerman trial will have limited
access to families, outside news
(Orlando Sentinel, Jacob Langston/Pool/ Associated Press
) - George Zimmerman listens during jury selection in Seminole circuit court on
the fourth day of his trial, in Sanford, Fla., Thursday, June 13, 2013.
Zimmerman has been charged with second-degree murder for the 2012 shooting
death of Trayvon Martin.
•
•
•
•
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•
•
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By Associated Press, Published: June 13 | Updated:
Friday, June 14, 6:02 AM
SANFORD, Fla. — The six jurors and four alternates who
eventually will decide whether George Zimmerman committed murder when he
fatally shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin will have limited contact with the
outside world during the two weeks to a month it will take to hold the trial.
Circuit Judge Debra Nelson said for the first time
Thursday that jurors picked for Zimmerman’s second-degree murder trial will be
sequestered. They will have limited contact with their families, they will
spend the night at a hotel and their actions will be monitored by court
security outside the courtroom during the duration of the trial. Prosecutors
and defense attorneys resume their fifth day of jury selection Friday.
“You would not be able to participate in day-to-day
routine activities,” defense attorney Don West told one potential juror.
Some potential jurors have been wary of the prospect of
being cut off from the world during the trial.
Jury candidate K-80, a middle-aged white woman, described
sequestration Thursday as “my biggest fear.” Jurors are only referred to by
their jury numbers in court to protect their identities.
Juror E-81, a middle-aged white woman, said when she saw
the word “sequester” on the questionnaire in the jury room, “the walls caved
in.”
“I want to sleep in my own bed,” she said. The potential
juror also worried about her safety if picked, saying “I’m going to walk out of
here with a bulls-eye on me.”
The jury candidate appeared to already have made up her
mind about the case, decreasing her chances of being picked. Her impression was
that Martin’s prior use of marijuana and an image of a gun found on his cell
phone were indications that “he was going down the wrong path.” She also said
she believed Zimmerman was just “looking after his neighborhood.”
“I believe every American has a right to defend himself,”
said Juror E-81. “I think the more people armed, the better.”
Potential juror B-67, a Hispanic female in her 40s, was
allowed to leave courtroom without being questioned by defense attorneys after
she said being sequestered would be a hardship with her family and school
commitments.
Zimmerman, a 29-year-old former neighborhood watch
volunteer, is pleading not guilty to second-degree murder, claiming he shot an
unarmed Martin in self-defense. A 44-day delay in Zimmerman’s arrest led to
protests around the nation. They questioned whether the Sanford Police
Department was investigating the case seriously since Martin was a black teen
from the Miami area. Zimmerman identifies himself as Hispanic.
Attorneys need to find six jurors and four alternates. In
Florida, 12 jurors are required only for criminal trials involving capital
cases, when the death penalty is being considered.
