General Discussion

christx30

(6,241 posts)

146. I'm not just talking about the

Mon Jul 15, 2013, 09:53 AM

Jul 2013

facts of this case. I'm talking about the Fifth Amendment. The concept of double jeopardy. Yes it sucks when the bad guy gets away. It sucks when the prosecution screws the pooch and doesn't do it's jub. They should be fired for this one. But the fact is that justice is not always guaranteed. Sometimes people get away with murder. That's why "getting away with murder" is a phrase.
But GZ was tried in front of a jury. The prosecutors failed to prove their case. It should be over. Martin's family will sue and Zimmerman will end up paying a bunch of money to him. And that's fine. But to subject him to double jeopardy is just wrong. It speaks to a heavy handed Federal government. Jury trials no longer matter if someone disagrees with the outcome.

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BREAKING per Huffington......Justice Department To Review Zimmerman Case [View all] rsmith6621 Jul 2013 OP

Good GiaGiovanni Jul 2013 #1

Ugh, this is going to nose dive. Gravitycollapse Jul 2013 #2

How do think it will "nose dive"? GiaGiovanni Jul 2013 #6

So should we just throw the concept of double jeporady out the window, to apease people? Travis_0004 Jul 2013 #7

Do you remember the Rodney King case? GiaGiovanni Jul 2013 #8

Zimmerman was not in a position of authority Travis_0004 Jul 2013 #10

This message was self-deleted by its author Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2013 #12

he can't be forced to testify ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2013 #16

Read it elsewhere. Must have been for the civil case. Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2013 #20

perhaps there you are right... ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2013 #21

I'm not very civil either. Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2013 #22

thanks for catching that... ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2013 #23

This message was self-deleted by its author LumosMaxima Jul 2013 #45

I figured out the rules I read about would cover a civil case filed by the family. Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2013 #49

So the 5th amendment is meaningless in the eyes of the feds? davidn3600 Jul 2013 #18

He would be tried for violation of Trayvon's civil rights. Before he was tried for murder. MoonRiver Jul 2013 #40

I know that...but this isn't what the founding fathers intended davidn3600 Jul 2013 #44

He could have been had the DOJ chosen to do so. MoonRiver Jul 2013 #48

5th amendment davidn3600 Jul 2013 #54

The offense charged would be different: violation of civil rights NOT murder. MoonRiver Jul 2013 #59

Seeing as how they couldn't prove murder when OwnedByCats Jul 2013 #67

Education is a wonderful thing. lumpy Jul 2013 #97

It is double Jeopardy donnasgirl Jul 2013 #78

You think John2 Jul 2013 #138

Think about it donnasgirl Jul 2013 #148

Come on...give me a break....it's double jeopardy davidn3600 Jul 2013 #86

I don't John2 Jul 2013 #139

The prosecution team should be who goes on trial then... Blanks Jul 2013 #149

true PaulKersey Jul 2013 #156

I was sent John2 Jul 2013 #136

Read more on double jeopardy treestar Jul 2013 #66

the founding daddies were fucked up racists. n/t Whisp Jul 2013 #121

Thanks. A voice of reason in a jumble of opinions. lumpy Jul 2013 #91

BS lumpy Jul 2013 #95

That's in a civil case Morganfleeman Jul 2013 #19

Not true. You are confusing this with a civil case. totodeinhere Jul 2013 #71

Watch the DOJ press Confrence from a year ago ceonupe Jul 2013 #80

Look further on this topic.You'll see I did a correction. Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2013 #92

This message was self-deleted by its author premium Jul 2013 #126

Is Neighborhood Watch not "position of authority"? alp227 Jul 2013 #32

The persons to whom deprivation of rights under color of law applies meow2u3 Jul 2013 #79

Trayvon was also a minor....just turned 17 years old. FarPoint Jul 2013 #85

Here's the manual for Neighborhood watch "officials" ewagner Jul 2013 #113

People just John2 Jul 2013 #137

Exactly! ;-) ReRe Jul 2013 #153

Zimmerman was trained by the Sanford Police. nt boston bean Jul 2013 #47

He thought he was in a position of authority... marions ghost Jul 2013 #133

Exactly. ReRe Jul 2013 #152

The abuse of state authority in RK. Ugh. So short sighted. Nt galileoreloaded Jul 2013 #14

Not double jeopardy MannyGoldstein Jul 2013 #28

Thanks. GiaGiovanni Jul 2013 #30

This isn't double jeopardy. Chan790 Jul 2013 #31

Correct! another_liberal Jul 2013 #112

Double jeopardy means . . . Brigid Jul 2013 #33

It's only double jeporady if he is charged with the same crime. He won't be. The charge jtuck004 Jul 2013 #50

That does not apply to different charges treestar Jul 2013 #65

It isn't double jeopardy because the Justice Department would bring different charges than JDPriestly Jul 2013 #124

A civil rights charge is a different crime AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #125

double jeopardy doesn't apply here marym625 Jul 2013 #144

Plus, JohnnyBoots Jul 2013 #155

"If the DOJ sat back and did nothing, they would be hounded until they did." goldent Jul 2013 #57

They did not sit back. They were looking into the civil rights case and then.. Little Star Jul 2013 #120

George Zimmerman committed murder. He still has to pay for what he did. Mr. David Jul 2013 #9

Yeah... if we don't like christx30 Jul 2013 #35

It's a miscarriage of justice. Mr. David Jul 2013 #38

And a lot of people thought the same thing when OJ christx30 Jul 2013 #53

OJ also had a civil case against him N/t FreeState Jul 2013 #58

But he was never christx30 Jul 2013 #72

This message was self-deleted by its author ceonupe Jul 2013 #87

The jury didn't have access to information that the trial observers had such as people on this lumpy Jul 2013 #101

I don't agree John2 Jul 2013 #140

I'm not just talking about the christx30 Jul 2013 #146

He's a pretty recognizable figure. Wherever he goes, he will face public loathing and scorn for Flatulo Jul 2013 #61

and everywhere he goes, signs saying "Justice for Trayvon" Voice for Peace Jul 2013 #128

He'll never face a needle for murdering Trayvon. MoonRiver Jul 2013 #43

True. The type of offense he would be tried for if the feds step in doesn't carry the death totodeinhere Jul 2013 #73

Isn't it ironic how many posters think they know how the legal system works. I hope the DOJ lumpy Jul 2013 #89

Hell...I'm fine with giving Zimmy endless nocturnal harassment. FarPoint Jul 2013 #90

They need to at least make an assessment marshall Jul 2013 #60

The DOJ stepped away from the case when Florida decided to do something about it and took over. lumpy Jul 2013 #105

Do you have a link to where the FBI determined that because.... Little Star Jul 2013 #122

Here's Christian Science Monitor marshall Jul 2013 #142

There are state laws and there are federal laws... George II Jul 2013 #74

I agree with you... SkyDaddy7 Jul 2013 #130

Just another example mick063 Jul 2013 #3

There is good reason for it. BainsBane Jul 2013 #24

Pleased to hear this. AllINeedIsCoffee Jul 2013 #4

kr HiPointDem Jul 2013 #5

Tray on Martin's family can also file a civil suit. kaiden Jul 2013 #11

you may need to check the "v" on your keyboard Skittles Jul 2013 #15

The problem is that Zimmerman may be immune due to self-defense, alp227 Jul 2013 #34

He can ask a court for a hearing. But he will have to testify and win. nt msanthrope Jul 2013 #37

What GZ did was not self-defense. Not SYG. Mr. David Jul 2013 #39

I agree. nt msanthrope Jul 2013 #42

Only under state laws. The Feds are not bound by state statute. 1monster Jul 2013 #51

What...it's possible to file a wrongful death suit in FEDERAL court? alp227 Jul 2013 #83

A civil rights suit is filed in Federal Court. 1monster Jul 2013 #96

I thought wrongful death laws existed in states, too. alp227 Jul 2013 #98

I think we are talking apples and oranges. This thread was about a federal civil rights review... 1monster Jul 2013 #100

Ah I get it. But "civil suit" those words threw me off a bit. nt alp227 Jul 2013 #114

Watch eric holders press Confrence on this from last year ceonupe Jul 2013 #104

The word "review" bothers me. It is too vanilla. The next thing we will hear from the Lint Head Jul 2013 #13

"The system must change, starting with ending corporations defined as persons" marions ghost Jul 2013 #134

So if he is indicted, DU will experience another gun troll repub invasion Kingofalldems Jul 2013 #17

K&R Owl Jul 2013 #25

"The department opened an investigation into Martin's death last year" PoliticAverse Jul 2013 #26

You just John2 Jul 2013 #143

Big Whoop. truebluegreen Jul 2013 #27

Yes! Then move onto the bigger issue of the flawed law which allowed Z to get off. n/t Avalux Jul 2013 #29

Yes. Yes. Let's keep a positive attitude coeur_de_lion Jul 2013 #36

Our system does not work that way ceonupe Jul 2013 #106

Having a negative attitude about it won't make it better coeur_de_lion Jul 2013 #109

good! n/t BlancheSplanchnik Jul 2013 #41

great to hear! hopemountain Jul 2013 #46

So to get this straight - the DOJ cowers in fear from well-heeled banksters - none of whom have WestSeattle2 Jul 2013 #52

There is no reason to bring that up here treestar Jul 2013 #68

Really? And just what is so "awful" about bringing up this striking comparison? Do you not WestSeattle2 Jul 2013 #141

A 17 year old kid is stalked and murdered treestar Jul 2013 #145

No. They won't. There's no win possible for them in this case. n/t Egalitarian Thug Jul 2013 #111

And protesting non-violently Iliyah Jul 2013 #55

Can't happen soon enough! For once I salute Holder's decision on this one. eom 99th_Monkey Jul 2013 #56

He hasn't made a decision yet. They said they are reviewing the case but no decision totodeinhere Jul 2013 #77

I mean the DoJ's "decision" to even review the case at all, and then publicly announce it as well. 99th_Monkey Jul 2013 #102

great news miked62916 Jul 2013 #62

I hope they are able to rectify this. I feel even less safe than I did before. WCLinolVir Jul 2013 #63

Yawn SoCalMusicLover Jul 2013 #64

Interesting perspective RedCappedBandit Jul 2013 #70

It's All Window Dressing SoCalMusicLover Jul 2013 #75

Big Industry, corporations Own this country fascisthunter Jul 2013 #69

the man is a PROVEN THREAT TO SOCIETY Skittles Jul 2013 #76

Zimmerman or Sanford PD? n/t OneGrassRoot Jul 2013 #81

Thanks for posting this...MO, this is definitely good news. red dog 1 Jul 2013 #82

Does anyone know what specific federal civil rights statutes he could possibly be charged under? anomiep Jul 2013 #84

You won't get answers from the angry mob ceonupe Jul 2013 #107

Sorta like the Zimmerman legal system itsrobert Jul 2013 #110

�The Arc of the Moral Universe Is Long, but It Bends Toward Justice� B Stieg Jul 2013 #88

Good! Spazito Jul 2013 #93

How? What could they try him? I could see a Civil case TM family could Sue GZ. Walter-White Jul 2013 #94

Even if they don't win they can rake him over the coals for another year or two. mwrguy Jul 2013 #99

Good. At least it will be kept alive for the time being. Let's hope Cleita Jul 2013 #103

I'll beleive it when I see it. Egalitarian Thug Jul 2013 #108

An eye for an eye is the Biblical solution. Conium Jul 2013 #115

Nothing will come from this, of course. David__77 Jul 2013 #116

K&R. pacalo Jul 2013 #117

I want that man in court for the next ten years. I want him to worry like Trayvons family everyday. bravenak Jul 2013 #118

Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 2013 #131

He'll remain a child killer in the eyes of America. bravenak Jul 2013 #132

So what do you think that'll amount to? Owl Jul 2013 #119

good! napkinz Jul 2013 #123

Good idea, Martin definitely had his civil right to be exactly where he was violated. Warpy Jul 2013 #127

Wow! Helen Borg Jul 2013 #129

Its not over, until is over. darkangel218 Jul 2013 #135

For depriving Trayvon of his civil rights? The Feds still have to use this vehical to convict.... marble falls Jul 2013 #147

I've been hoping for this! LongTomH Jul 2013 #150

Big pudgy dope libodem Jul 2013 #151

We can damn sure hope so madokie Jul 2013 #154