The Zimmerman Trial

George Zimmerman. What has this man been up to? The 29 year-old bulbous male has been charged with second-degree murder of 17 year-old Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman, who sued NBC after allegedly falling victim to Yellow Journalism - based on exaggerated claims - is faring a difficult time convincing the jury of...six women. Mixed jury? No. Plaintively one spectrum of human species.

In 2012 on February 17, Martin, an African American was shot by Zimmerman whose plea for self-defense was examined on April 29 in front of a judge in Florida - known for its "stand your ground law".

This law, in the United States, articulates that a person may justifiably use force in self-defense when there is reasonable belief of an unlawful threat, without an obligation to retreat first. Conveniently, this law provides its claimant with immunity which bars suit, charges, detention, and arrest. Conveniently, Zimmerman's first appeal was to this law.

Post-April 29 hearing, the verdict revealed an affidavit of probable cause filed against Zimmerman. It stated Zimmerman committed the murder while Martin was committing no crimes. As additional evidence was collected, it continued to work against Zimmerman despite the efforts of his attorney.

Quick tangent, second-degree murder in America receives a maximum penalty of a life sentence in prison. Life.

Today, according to NPR's delivery of the court action, defense attorneys took turns defending their clients to the offering of a terrible knock-knock joke and no avail.

The New York Times retells the highlights of today's trial in detail.

What prodded at my curiosity was the six-woman jury, and so, after prodding around at my keyboard learned a little about jury selection which I will share with you.

In the United States, after carrying out voir dire, the culminating choice of jury members are up to the discretion of the attorneys and judge. Voir dire determines/ detects the bias of potential jurors. Each State has its own set of rules determined by the US Constitution.

In the case of the Zimmerman-Martin trial, six women were culled of forty possible juror candidates. All female, five of the six women were white and one a minority. It took twelve weeks for prosecutors and attorneys to finalize their choices. In Florida, twelve members are required only for criminal trials involving capital cases when the death penalty is being considered. To read the article in full: CBC News.