George Zimmerman’s defense lawyer can continue his controversial social media and public relations strategy, a judge ruled Monday.
Prosecutors handling the second degree murder charge against Zimmerman requested the gag order, because of what they believed was a campaign by the defense to taint the jury.
Seminole County Circuit Judge Debra Nelson decided against issuing the gag order in the high profile murder case, saying that there was no evidence of “an overriding pattern of prejudicial commentary that will overcome reasonable efforts to select a fair and impartial jury.”
Assistant Duval County State Attorney Bernie de la Rionda argued that defense lawyer Mark O’Mara had repeatedly broken accepted Florida Bar Association rules regarding what an attorney can say and about what. O’Mara, he said, has commented publicly on evidence, the credibility of witnesses and even his own client.
The two sides faced off during a two and a half hour hearing Friday before Nelson at the Seminole County courthouse in Sanford.
The Miami Herald, the Orlando Sentinel and other media companies fought back against the gag order, saying the prosecutor did not present enough evidence to prove it was necessary.
“Judge Nelson recognized that gag orders can be used only as a last resort if there is no other way to make sure there will be an impartial jury,” said Scott Ponce, an attorney for The Miami Herald and other media companies. “Judges have a lot of tools they can use to make sure jurors are impartial, and Judge Nelson is going to use those tools instead entering a gag order.”
The judge added that she ruled on the order “without prejudice,” meaning the lawyers can file more motions on the issue in the future. It was the second time de la Rionda asked for a gag order.
O’Mara is an Orlando criminal defense lawyer who launched a novel public relations strategy, which included a Twitter account and website dedicated just to that case.. A Facebook page was abandoned when it quickly devolved into bickering among users. He has held occasional press conferences and given both national and local TV and newspaper interviews.
O’Mara said he went public with his defense to turn around an onslaught of negative publicity that preceded Zimmerman’s arrest.
Trayvon Martin, 17, was in Sanford Feb. 26 serving out a suspension from Michael Krop Senior High School, where he was a junior. Trayvon was on his way back from a convenience store when he encountered Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer who not recognize the teen and found his behavior suspicious.
They struggled, and Zimmerman says he was forced to shoot an unarmed attacker in order to save his own life.
In a separate ruling, Judge Nelson said prosecutors will not have access to Zimmerman’s medical records from before the February shooting. Trayvon’s parents and their lawyer had hoped that lawyers would get to find out what other medications Zimmerman was taken and whether he had suffered injuries on his head or nose prior to the fight with Trayvon.
A trial is tentatively set for June 10.
A Sanford judge said there is no evidence that Zimmerman’s defense lawyer has spoken out so much that it will be impossible to seat a jury in his murder trial.
A judge will decide Monday whether to gag lawyers in the George Zimmerman murder case.
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A judge will decide Friday whether lawyers in the George Zimmerman murder trial should be muzzled.
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