My Greatest fear will come with the Zimmerman verdict

[DenStinett]

No matter the outcome, this trial WILL become Case Law
This Case WILL be sited in EVERY seemingly justified / Self Defense Shooting from here on
No matter the circumstances, State or Jurisdiction
Our Attorney General has seen to that
Now that my Friends; IS my greatest fear with this verdict   

Just my observation?..

[bozwell]

It depends on if it makes it to the appellate level and, even then, it depends what the reviewing court decides as to what case law would be.  The district court decision isn't going to be binding authority on anyone.  Not to say it won't affect other cases in other ways.

[1SOW]

My greatest fear is that jurors will not rule solely based on existing laws.  Emotions that may push to find "at least" some guilt may escalate to contribute to the above concerns.

I "don't like" Mr. Zimmerman;  but based on what the public has been given,  I find him innocent of breaking any law..

[dsbjax]

Regardless of the verdict it will be used for an attack on gun owners and concealed carry laws. If he is convicted look for calls for more restrictions on concealed carry. If he is acquitted the call will be for tougher laws on self defense, or as I like to call it the Predator's Bill of Rights. 

[bobanddog]

I "don't like" Mr. Zimmerman;  but based on what the public has been given,  I find him innocent of breaking any law..

I've never met him, so I can't speak of like or dislike.  I certainly don't have any respect for him. 

As far as the law goes, I wasn't there and have not been privy to all the details those in the justice system have.  However; I will say that deciding to patrol his neighborhood armed with only deadly force as a back-up to his apparently pathetic physical ability to defend himself was a recipe for disaster.  He knew the consequences of his actions far better than the unarmed minor did.

[Cesar]

There shouldn't be such thing as Case Law at all.

Trials should be run based on law, evidence, criminal intent etc, and never based on another case outcome.
Otherwise we may as well go back to witch hunt 'trials'.

Z was facing grievous harm actively done to him, with a possibility of losing life, so self defense was justified regardless of the means or tools used. If the person committing crime died, oh well..

[skipper]

This trial has gone back to the"witch hunt trials." It is base on race. I will hold any further comment until the verdict.

[TAPnRACK]

Verdict in moments.... reached after 16 hrs of deliberation.

[skipper]

Justice prevailed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TAPnRACK]

Not Guilty!

[1SOW]

I've never met him, so I can't speak of like or dislike.  I certainly don't have any respect for him.

One of my eccentricities is that I can't think of anyone that I don't have any respect for that I also like. 

And skipper, I think the press was gleeful that it might be a big racist  headline.  Unfortunately it's said that Zimmerman is of hispanic herritage, but maybe the press feels that's just an insignificant detail.

[Riptide439]

Not Guilty!

[skipper]

1SOW, I thought the press was went out on a limb so far as to declare Zimmerman a white Hispanic, whatever that was supposed to mean. He was a man that unfortunately paid dearly for defending himself and hopefully he can get his life back on track. The system worked as it is supposed to.

[jabbermurph]

This cae definitely proves that this country is still full of knuckleheads that are dumber than a football bat...letting network and social media override their ability to reason.  I am glad the verdict was the right one, but it doesn't boost my faith in the way things are going.  I have a feeling that he might need to keep his carry permit and maybe up his home defense equipment, because there are quite a few fakebook-brainwashed idiots out there...overzealous and itching for some form of not-really-justice justice

[bozwell]

There shouldn't be such thing as Case Law at all.

Trials should be run based on law, evidence, criminal intent etc, and never based on another case outcome.
Otherwise we may as well go back to witch hunt 'trials'.

Z was facing grievous harm actively done to him, with a possibility of losing life, so self defense was justified regardless of the means or tools used. If the person committing crime died, oh well..

No offense, but that's a pretty gross misunderstanding of how the law works.  Case law is law.  Evidence is fact.  Criminal intent is a requirement of some crimes.  If you think "case law" means that courts will disregard questions of law, questions of fact and elements of particular crimes... well, I don't know what you think case law is.  For that matter, district court decisions don't create binding case law to begin with, so the thread as a whole is a bit of a misnomer. 

Ultimately this mess started when the media felt the need to hype this sad set of circumstances up, when honestly it was a fairly textbook shades of grey self-defense shooting with very few racial implications.  I'm glad to hear GZ got off and I hope he can get it together from here on out.  Personally, I'm sick of hearing about this case and the misunderstandings about the law from both sides of the fence.  It amazes me how people will comment so vehemently about things they really don't understand. Glad to hear it's over, and I hope all the hype will die down now.