July 20, 2013
By David Ovalle and Audra D.S. Burch
SANFORD -- Sixteen months (click here) after George Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon Martin during a brawl that drew worldwide attention and sparked racial tension, an all-female jury — all but one of whom are white — will decide if the neighborhood watchman is guilty of murder.
Lawyers will present their opening statements Monday morning. The six jurors plus four alternates were sworn in Thursday afternoon.
Each of the jurors, during the nine-day selection process, promised to be fair and impartial. The panel was chosen despite prosecutors’ unsuccessful attempts to remove two of the women. Legal experts, who believe people of color might side with prosecutors in this case, were surprised at the lack of racial diversity and split on the effects of the all-female jury. The jurors were chosen from a pool of 40 potential jurors — 24 were women, at least five were African American and at least two were Hispanic....
Let's all hope this will be an unremarkable trial steeped in the truth. All involved deserve that much from our justice system.
By David Ovalle and Audra D.S. Burch
SANFORD -- Sixteen months (click here) after George Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon Martin during a brawl that drew worldwide attention and sparked racial tension, an all-female jury — all but one of whom are white — will decide if the neighborhood watchman is guilty of murder.
Lawyers will present their opening statements Monday morning. The six jurors plus four alternates were sworn in Thursday afternoon.
Each of the jurors, during the nine-day selection process, promised to be fair and impartial. The panel was chosen despite prosecutors’ unsuccessful attempts to remove two of the women. Legal experts, who believe people of color might side with prosecutors in this case, were surprised at the lack of racial diversity and split on the effects of the all-female jury. The jurors were chosen from a pool of 40 potential jurors — 24 were women, at least five were African American and at least two were Hispanic....
Let's all hope this will be an unremarkable trial steeped in the truth. All involved deserve that much from our justice system.
