Names of six jurors who acquitted George Zimmerman made public

[Baitball Blogger]

Last edited Thu Apr 3, 2014, 10:09 PM - Edit history (1)

The names of the six-member jury panel that acquitted George Zimmerman in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin have been made public for the first time, after a new court order, records show.

Circuit Judge Debra Nelson, who had previously ordered the jurors' identifying information be kept confidential, granted access to the names in a ruling March 21.

Zimmerman's defense asked the judge in June to keep the names secret until six months after the verdict. The judge set no timeline then, but noted in her new order they have been withheld more than eight months.

Attempts to reach the jurors by phone and in-person Thursday were unsuccessful.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/trayvon-martin/os-george-zimmerman-juror-names-20140403,0,3685963.story

- - - -

You weren't actually expecting to find their names posted in the Orlando Sentinel, were you?

[cthulu2016]

1. That is HORRIBLE

[etherealtruth]

32. No sh*t ... I hated their verdict, but ....

.... this is ridiculous.

Most of the folk on the left despised their verdict ... had they voted the other way the right wing nut jobs would have despised their verdict.

This is simply not good

[lostincalifornia]

52. I agree. This hurts are jury system. And yes, I disagree with the jury's verdict also, but this is

Plan wrong

[840high]

99. Yes it is.

[joeybee12]

2. I think that sucks...

I think them acquiting him sucks, but let's face it, someone is going to...if nothing else...track one of these people down and confront him or her....names should have been kept private.

[warrant46]

3. Hopefully the Jurors will have Protection near at hand

When the "someone" as you suggest comes to "Call"

[joeybee12]

4. I bet they don't...people who get on juries usually aren't well to do...

The well to do always get out of jury duty.

[warrant46]

5. Well they can always dial 911

[joeybee12]

6. I think their only hope is enough time has passed...

People are still angry, but it's not so raw anymore...

[pintobean]

24. That depends on where one lives,

the size of the jury pool and the demand for jurors. We get called about every three years. There are no excuses.

[SoCalNative]

79. It's ok

they're in Florida..I'm sure they can just "stand their ground!"

[LordGlenconner]

142. Yeah no shit

The sympathy here for these lowlifes is absurd.

[Blue_Tires]

21. I don't get this whole "black folks are now going to hunt them down like animals" -vibe

on this thread, like *WE* are the lawless ones all of a sudden...

Does anyone else realize how outrageous this reads?

[A Little Weird]

28. The media

I think they are more likely to get harassed by the media than "hunted down" by anyone. I think jurors should have anonymity, even when they are dumbasses.

[Blue_Tires]

31. Oh, ok...DUers sure had me fooled...

We've got one poster here saying the jurors need to immediately get concealed-carry permits, and others who are certain that revenge and/or retaliation is about to be visited upon them and that their lives are automatically ruined...

Seems like "the media" isn't what posters in this thread are referring to...

[A Little Weird]

40. I think you read those posts right.

I was merely disagreeing with them. I'm pretty shocked too that people here are talking about concealed carry protection, etc.

[gollygee]

41. It sounds like

the fears that there would be mass riots when Zimmerman was found not guilty.

[joeybee12]

48. Did I say hunt them down? You don't think someone, regardless of race...

Might confront one of these jurors, not necessarily with violence, but when something like that happens, anything can happen, from either side...I'm really offended by your post...and I doubt you would even realize why.

[Blue_Tires]

63. Please explain why you're offended

Last edited Thu Apr 3, 2014, 08:26 PM - Edit history (1)

I'm serious...God knows I'm having enough trouble explaining to these people why *I* am offended...Maybe we're just talking past each other?

And for the record you did say "track down", if not "hunt down"...

[etherealtruth]

60. I think it was a very bad decision to release the names ...

It never occurred to me that 'black folk' would do anything ....? I strongly believe that people serving on high profile cases where emotions run very high are going to p*ss someone off regardless of how they vote (I was actually thinking of knuckle dragging right wing gun loving nut jobs, had this jury come to a different conclusion).

I think releasing the names of jurors in cases like this (high profile/ high emotion) ... is a bad idea.

I think the jurors, in this case, were either bigots or morons (probably a combination of the two) ... but, I still think the process needs to be protected.

[Hoyt]

127. I agree. They were saying there would be riots if verdict went for Zman. Nope, didn't happen.

It is outrageous.

[Vattel]

7. I hope no one bothers them.

Those jurors came to the only reasonable verdict. They help me to have a little faith in our trial system.

[roody]

36. So now murder is reasonable.

[Amak8]

38. You listen to too much Nancy Grace.

The state's case was awful.

[roody]

74. Don't have tv.

[Hip_Flask]

120. Info is also available on the web...

but the case really was terrible...

It was presented without enthusiasm and without a credible alternative to Zimmerman's version of events.

[amandabeech]

143. Yes, the prosecutors did a lousy job.

They really blew it in preparing Dee Dee and the medical examiner for testimony. Neither of the witnesses was nearly as effective as they could have been if properly prepared. It was as though the prosecutors had barely met the witnesses when they put the witnesses on the stand.

You could tell how badly the prosecutors did by their closing arguments. The first prosecutor just ran around and shouted, and the second asked the jurors to go with their guts and ignore the evidence. Neither one of them presented much argument based on the facts presented at trial.

I didn't find it too surprising that the jury came out with the verdict of "not guilty."

But Zimmerman will have a lot, a lot to account for when he meets his "higher power" in the end.

[cui bono]

37. What?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

[Vattel]

95. lol, we usually agree cui, but this is one issue where I get a nearly universal DU WTF? response.

I don't know if Zimmerman is a murderer cuz I wasn't there. But I am quite familiar with the law and the Zimmerman case, and it is pretty clear the prosecution did not prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

[alarimer]

131. WTF indeed.

He was essentially caught red-handed. The only question was self-defense. The jury was fucking stupid to believe it was self-defense.

[DrDan]

78. I agree with you - I listened to all of the prosecution's case - and they

came to the same decision I did - guilt was not proven

[Logical]

80. Like OJ? lol nt

[DrDan]

81. not sure what you are implying

do you have a point to make?

[alarimer]

129. A guy stalked and killed a teenager and you think the verdict was reasonable?

That is idiotic.

[B2G]

14. Sick nt

[Boom Sound 416]

20. How what felt?

[Hip_Flask]

121. Classy...

... cause they deserve it right?

[bigwillq]

9. I think it should be up to the individual

to go public or not.

If one of the jurors wants to do the talk show circuit, fine. But those that want to remain anonymous should be able to.

[dsc]

10. this is nothing short of outragous

It is hard enough to get people to do jury duty.

[Blue_Tires]

29. almost as outrageous as their verdict, but not quite...

[dsc]

33. they followed the law

like it or not, they did their jobs and your beef is with the legislators who wrote it and the judge who issued the instructions, both of whose names you know.

[Blue_Tires]

35. Two of them admitted indirectly that they *didn't* follow the law

Last edited Thu Apr 3, 2014, 08:37 PM - Edit history (1)

since they said in interviews later that their minds were decided before the trial started...

Some jury...

EDIT: The judge is following the law here and doing her job too, is she not? I think your problem is with that law itself...

[dsc]

44. I don't recall either juror stating that

but that said, the instructions were an order to acquit. The jury was told that it didn't matter if Zimmerman started the confrontation or not, all that mattered was if at one time during the confrontation Zimmerman felt he was at risk of harm. There was no way the jury could have known beyond a reasonable doubt that Zimmerman didn't have such a fear. Again, your problem is with the authors of the law and the issuer of the instructions.

[Blue_Tires]

57. My problem is with an entire legal system which still to this day

sees black lives having less "value" than anyone else's -- Because at the end of the day, no matter what words are used to dress it up, that's still the bottom line...

Since you don't recall any juror saying that, here's the first clue -- Feel free to dig for the others...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023270359

[dsc]

59. Please link to the words "I made up my mind before the trial"

I read the post you linked three times, those words aren't in there. You claimed they were. Now, she should have been kept off the jury, but that doesn't mean we should have the names of the jurors.

[Blue_Tires]

62. That wasn't the exact quote, nor did I ever say it was...

Do a quick search on juror interview threads, and it becomes obvious...

[dsc]

67. the word minds is in quotes in your post

if you don't believe me look at it yourself. So I ask again, where are the words in the interview. That is what I said I didn't recall and turns out I was 100% correct.

[Blue_Tires]

72. Ok, so what is it called when you completely disregard instructions?

I thought that was called "solidifying your prejudiced decision before all the arguments have been heard?"

And I can easily dig up the threads on that other juror's interview, or you can find it yourself...

Of course, while we're going back-and-forth on minutiae, absolutely nothing you've said has refuted my ultimate point (which was the real mindset behind the court and police from day one that lead to the ultimate verdict)

[treestar]

114. Trials are public

The jurors are out in public doing a public job.

It's amazing to me what people think might be private these days. They are shocked to learn that who owns what real estate is public.

A juror is out in public, period. The only anonymity is the size of the population such that you don't recognize people personally.

[Blue_Tires]

11. I'm guessing they have all long since changed names, addresses and phone numbers...

So what does it matter?

And why would the defense have asked for them to remain secret in the first place??

[B2G]

15. What does it matter??

You think the average joe is going to change his name or move because he did his civic duty?

What's wrong with you?

[Blue_Tires]

18. I dunno..

based on this thread, I'm guessing they are all in imminent danger and the lynch mobs are already en route...

[Aerows]

61. "I'm guessing they have all long since changed names, addresses and phone numbers"

Uh, I am pretty sure most did not, since they are law abiding enough to show up and do jury duty, and because it is a pain in the ass to do all of those things, including changing your location, getting the water and electricity/gas turned on, moving, since it is in general a pain in the ass.

You weren't really serious, were you? If so

[Aerows]

12. Gee, let's just ruin people's lives

because they served their civic duty. Whether you disagree with the ruling or not, putting innocent people that did the best they could in a difficult circumstance in danger of retaliation is not justice.

[Blue_Tires]

19. Isn't "ruin" kind of harsh??

weren't at least two jurors trying to whore book deals before they got publicly shamed back into the shadows?

[Aerows]

23. Because the 4 other people

that served on the jury in good faith should be punished along with them?

You do realize that is what you are implying, after all.

[Blue_Tires]

26. What's being implied on a supposed liberal site

is that black Americans are immediately going to take the law into their own hands and enact mob justice...

Which is beyond condescending, IMO...

It's no different from all those "I hope they don't riot" stories right before the verdict...

[Aerows]

34. Because black Americans

are the only people that go around the bend. Thanks for putting those words in my mouth. It's completely inconceivable that an outraged right winger could seek to do them harm, too, because they are just that nuts.

In fact, it is absolutely beyond comprehension that white people might be just as angry at the verdict.

But yeah, it's all about race. I didn't go there, Blue_Tires, you did. I said it sucked to publish the names of jurors.

And it does, and undermines one of the protections we have as citizens that do our civic duty by doing jury service.

[Blue_Tires]

53. What right-winger is going after them?

When they were the ones celebrating the verdict the loudest? If anything, the gunners would want to look them up to give them a parade...


I'm just calling it as I see it; with posters talking about getting gun permits, being afraid of retaliation, and all that bullshit...If the jurors were in imminent danger, something would have happened to them long ago since it wouldn't have taken that much work to dig up the names... Did it ever occur to anyone that the judge released the names for the exact reason that she assessed any potential threat to their well-being as minimal to non-existent??

And I want you to think really hard here -- Try to recall all the notoriously divisive, controversial or high-profile court cases in the past, say, hundred years and see how many of them had some kind of mythical "violent juror retaliation" in the months afterward...

NOW ask yourself WHY it's assumed to be a near certainty in this thread that black folks (Yes, you can admit it -- *IF* there was going to be an attack; chances are it would come from one of us since we continue to be the perpetually aggrieved party in the legal system) would immediately seek out some kind of revenge...

Like I said; it's the same level of insult as the pre-emptive riot warnings...

[cui bono]

42. I can see what you're saying but now you're the one implying that only black Americans

were upset by the verdict.

Had it gone the other way and they released the juror's names I think everyone would feel the same way. It is going to make people try to avoid jury duty even more now.

And, this is not a liberal site, unfortunately.

[tblue37]

54. I am white, but the verdict enraged me, too. I am not violent and would never

commit or advocate for violence, but believe me, a LOT of white people are angry about that verdict, and not all are mild-mannered. I could imagine some people thinking it appropriate to harass those jurors. (Of course it is NOT appropriate.)

[NaturalHigh]

93. Who here has mentioned...

"black Americans" and "mob justice" in the same sentence? You are the only one as far as I can see.

[Hip_Flask]

122. So based on that whispered potential, they deserve what exactly?

Whatever they get?

[VScott]

13. And six new Florida residents apply for their CCW permit.

If they already haven't by now, they should seriously consider it.

[Blue_Tires]

16. Is that before or after every black citizen in the state applies for theirs?

Since it is us who are subject to "special" attention????

[Boom Sound 416]

27. What???

Last edited Thu Apr 3, 2014, 07:47 PM - Edit history (1)

On edit: it's probably best you don't read the any of the data.

[spin]

45. I know a number of black citizens in Florida who have concealed weapons permits. ...

One was my boss when I retired. I had introduced him to shooting handguns 20 years before. For a year or two we used to go to the pistol range on a regular basis after working together on the graveyard shift.

When he took his concealed weapons class prior to getting his license, his instructor was so impressed with his ability that he tried to get him interested in competitive shooting.

[Aerows]

47. I'd rather have a black person with a handgun

at my back when shooting starts than a white person with a tea kettle.

[Blue_Tires]

69. Good on him

he'll know what to do when the next mook from the neighborhood watch accosts him for being the wrong color and walking in the wrong residential area...

I hope his marksmanship is true...

[spin]

91. When my friend asked me about a concealed weapons class, I recommended ...

an excellent instructor who I used to often talk with on the pistol range. This individual was willing to teach one on one and wanted to be damn sure that his students understood the law in Florida and were quite knowledgeable about gun safety. He also insisted that any student he passed could shoot accurately and was willing to help until he could. He had helped me improve my shooting skills on the range although I had never attended one of his classes.

Many instructors have their students fire a few rounds at a full sized silhouette target at 15 feet and if they can hit it, they pass. My friend's instructor had him shoot at least 50 rounds at targets placed at various ranges from 25 yards to arm's length. As I stated above, the instructor was very impressed with my friend's skill and wished that he would become interested in competitive shooting.

The classes taught by this instructor were more expensive than most concealed weapons classes. I told my friend that he would pay a little more but it would be worth it. He felt I had given him good advise after he passed the course.

The instructor was very knowledgeable about firearms, the laws involving self defense in Florida and pistol shooting but unfortunately he wasn't as cautious when driving a car as he was handling a firearm. He was involved in a traffic accident which wasn't his fault, but died because he was not wearing a seatbelt.

[Hoyt]

128. Wouldn't you, considering all the bigoted white wing gun fanciers.

[spin]

144. On the way back from the range after the first time I had went shooting with my black co-worker ...

I asked him, "How did find the experience."

He surprised me when he said, "I was really amazed at how all the other white shooters welcomed me."

While I'm sure that many white racists own firearms, I mainly know gun owners who are regular shooters at the gun ranges I belonged to. At these ranges we welcomed everybody into our shooting fraternity. Range members would give free advice on how to improve their shooting skills if asked and it didn't matter if they were black, Hispanic or Oriental. We also had a number of gay shooters who visited our ranges.

Perhaps because so much hatred is shown toward gun owners by some liberals and the main stream media, we have some understanding of discrimination. We are commonly insulted in ways which are simply amazing by people who try their best to always be "politically correct" at all times. We are often called stupid rednecks, illiterate fools, KKK members, Teabaggers, cold blooded killers looking for a chance to blow someone way, and on and on. It's great fun for many to suggest that we all have small penises and own firearms to make up for our deficiency. (I do realize that I don't get the same level of discrimination as many members of the minority communities do daily. Most people I encounter do not realize that I am a gun owner or that I am carrying a firearm.)

Recently an owner of an establishment in South Carolina posted a no guns sign on his door with this text:

“NO CONCEALED WEAPONS ALLOWED. If you are such a loser that you feel a need to carry a gun with you when you go out, I do not want your business. Douchebag.”

I guess it is simply human nature to feel superior to those who are not like you. It is no longer acceptable in our society to express such feelings toward blacks, Hispanics or Orientals which in my opinion is a major improvement. It is also no longer acceptable to insult those who are mentally challenged, clinically obese or have serious mental problems.

About all that's left for a politically correct person to insult is white males and especially those white males who own or legally carry firearms.

Therefore I qualify as fair game. That's fine. I have broad shoulders and I just laugh at all the insults I get because I am a white male and I own and carry firearms. Still it does help to make me aware of how discrimination is unfair and foolish. Therefore I do my best to be fair to all and to always do my best to be polite.

But if it makes you feel better or superior to insult me or those like me, go for it. I will just feel sorry for you. However if you do decide to insult me, please try to come up with something original. I am growing tired of the same old tired insults I keep getting. I need something new to laugh at. I always complement those who do come up with a new insult.

[VScott]

101. Uhmmmm... yeah, right.

[Blue_Tires]

117. pithy response

Clearly you believe the jurors' lives are in grave danger, otherwise you wouldn't have made such a fuckwitted statement...

So my direct question to you is why do you believe their lives are in danger, and where do you believe the supposed threat is coming from?

Or are white Floridians the only people entitled to self-defense?

[pacalo]

113. If I remember correctly, most, if not all, of the six jurors owned guns.

This was revealed during the jury selection process, & I think it's worth noting that a good number of the jury pool was dismissed before they were questioned. My impression then was that those six jurors were chosen way too prematurely. These jurors were all good choices for the defense, not for the prosecution by any stretch. The prosecution should have insisted on interviewing much further than they did.

[surrealAmerican]

17. Why?

What purpose does it serve to release the jurors' names ever? Won't this just serve to discourage people from serving on juries?

[Boom Sound 416]

22. Point taken, but service is mandatory, not encouraged

[Blue_Tires]

25. public record?

What purpose did it serve for the defense to have those names shielded?

[Aerows]

46. To prevent those that are unhappy with the results

from knowing who voted what, because they were serving a MANDATORY civic duty. You don't have a choice at serving jury duty. You do it, and if you get picked, you are picked. If you are forced to do something and somebody doesn't like it, you shouldn't have the threat of retaliation by those that are unhappy with said findings.

[Blue_Tires]

58. And would the defense have been so gracious had they voted to convict?

Or was it just done to serve O'Mara's narrative of "angry violent black lynch mobs beating down the door"?

FWIW, O'Mara pulled the strings on that narrative beautifully from start to finish, and he had CNN eating out of his hands...No wonder they put him on the payroll...

[Aerows]

133. Frankly

I don't care if you are serving jury duty for a minor traffic accident. Your identity as being part of the jury shouldn't be exposed. If you choose to say you served on that jury, that's your business, but having it exposed regardless of whether you want it to be made public? I don't think that should ever be done. To be honest, I'm rather shocked that they are allowed to do that at all. I would have thought that since jury duty is mandatory, you shouldn't be forced to have your name made public.

[Blue_Tires]

138. I get what you're saying and I can appreciate that...

But somehow the overwhelming majority of juries in recent years have made it this far with their names being a part of public record without mysteriously being beaten, shot, lynched, etc...

And for pretty much every poster in this thread to automatically assume their lives are in danger, or they all need to go out and get guns to protect themselves from the angry black hordes beggars belief...

If anything, it should be the black Floridians stockpiling guns, since the courts have unequivocally said "If you kill one of them, we will not convict you".

[Aerows]

139. Oh, if I was a black Floridian

(I actually was a Floridian for 7 years, but I'm white) you can bet I'd have one. It still shocks me that a man can chase and execute an unarmed minor and get away with it (who couldn't legally own a gun at all).

[Aerows]

43. Yes, it will discourage people from serving on jury duty.

And it isn't voluntary, it is mandatory. Some folks seem to not know that.

I don't want *anyone* to know I served on a jury, because they might think their guilt or their innocence was at play by my hand. That's why justice should be blind.

[Skittles]

30. I don't agree with this

what is the point?

[msanthrope]

39. Good. Who is B37? nt

[countryjake]

49. But her "heart was in the right place", book-deal pending.

[msanthrope]

55. There should be an extension of Son of Sam laws to jurors. nt

[Aerows]

88. You claim to be a lawyer

but you think the identities of jury members should be made public?

Please state your reasoning. I'd love to hear that.

[countryjake]

97. Aerows, Juror #37 appeared on Anderson Cooper 360...

not very long after Zimmerman's trial ended (next day after the verdict, if I recall correctly), and presented herself in that interview as a dubious juror (at best), making many wonder why in the world someone who sounded so clearly biased (and flat-out ignorant, I will add) was allowed to remain sitting on that panel when jury-selection first took place.

She said things like "George's" heart was in the right place, which is what I was referring to in my reply to msanthrope.

She also revealed that she was shopping for a publisher, intending to seal a book deal about her experience as a member of the Zimmerman Trial jury.

Son of Sam laws prevent a convicted person from profiting off of any tales of the crimes they've committed.

[Aerows]

136. See, that was her choice, though

That's different than your identity being made public without your consent.

[msanthrope]

98. I am a lawyer. A criminal defense attorney...and I think a citizens who

take on a book deal on the backs of criminal defendants and their victims should be public.

[Aerows]

134. Oh, I agree with you on that one

But people that don't want their identity exposed as being on a jury shouldn't be made public if they object. If you want publicity for being on a jury and choose to tell everyone and anyone, that's your choice. I'm just uncomfortable with the idea that jury member identities can be made public without consent.

To be totally honest, I am shocked that they can do that. Hell, I wouldn't want it to be public if I was serving on a jury for a minor traffic accident, never mind a murder or a rape case.

[csziggy]

50. This is according to the Florida Sunshine Law

Normally, jurors names are not kept secret once a trial is over. It is an exception when they are withheld and even then, it is only allowed temporarily.

The Sunshine Law is one reason we can find out things done by government in Florida, though since Jeb Bush was in office, it's been harder to do that, despite the law. In general, the Sunshine Law is a very good thing, leading to transparency and public access to the workings of all levels of government.

As stupid as I think the jury's decision was, I doubt that this long after the fact, anyone will go after the jurors. I hope not - it would as criminal as what Zimmerman did.

[frylock]

66. thanks for injecting some knowledge and reason into the discussion

[JI7]

70. i remember the same thing happened with the Casey Anthony trial

the judge did not release the names right away . i think they waited a few months then also.

[csziggy]

71. Yes, in "hot" trials, judges will hold the names

But they cannot keep them out of the public record forever. Usually no announcement is made when the names are put into the public record, but I expect the Orlando area newspapers put in freedom of information requests to be notified as soon as the Zimmerman jurors' names were released.

[Blue_Tires]

73. Wow...really?

Based on the responses here, I'd have thought the judge was carelessly tossing these innocent jurors into a pack of live wolves by releasing the names...

[XRubicon]

51. All court proceedings are public record.

[ecstatic]

56. Some of the responses are very telling

Don't worry, nobody--except for journalists---is going to harass the jurors, despite their disgusting/racist verdict.

[dsc]

68. even if correct

isn't the journalists bad enough. Those jurors should have been kept private. We live in a world where the rape victim in Stubenville can't go out in public without being called a slut, and you think these people will be left alone. I wouldn't count on it.

[Blue_Tires]

76. At least none of them ever have to worry about walking while black in Florida...

You just have to say "no comment" a few times and eventually the calls stop coming...And what is so difficult about that??

You made it a point to tell me to respect the "rule of law" upthread; now I'm telling you to respect it here...

EDIT: Which one of you keeps switching to sock accounts to argue with me? "Name Removed" has been here since before 2003, and has 90 posts in all that time At least have the decency to come at me with your primary screen name...

[AngryAmish]

64. and this is going to be a shitshow....

Already is.

[frylock]

65. i'm shocked they escaped The Great Angry Black Riot Uprise that occurred after the verdict was read.

oh wait, that never actually happened, just like great harm visited upon the jurors won't happen either.

[DrDan]

75. absolutely ridiculous!!!!!

[Sissyk]

77. I can't believe that so many people

on this thread think someone is going to run to their homes, kill them, and what?? Even though it's very difficult most people have moved on. They still strongly disagree, but moved on.

The jurors will be fine. No one is gunning for them, forcrapssake!!

And, aren't all juror names released? I know they are in Tn.

[Blue_Tires]

82. The problem is DU has lost like 90% of longtime black posters and contributors

So it's down to me and about 6-7 others to keep the forum honest

[Sissyk]

85. I'm sorry to keep reading that, Blue_Tires!

But, as long as I'm here, please add me to the list.

[AngryAmish]

92. I kinda hate that DU is so unfriendly to black people

That is all.

[Number23]

96. Join the club.

We're pretty easy to spot around here since many of us haven't had stars by our names in eons.

[Jamaal510]

106. I've got a star,

but I only bought it just to be able to post a poll on here a while back.

[Number23]

107. You don't have to have a star to post polls do you??

[Jamaal510]

108. I'm pretty sure

that only star members can post polls here. It's kinda unfortunate, but I guess DU has to pay its bills somehow...

[Number23]

110. No, you're absolutely right. Just tried to post a poll in GD and said I couldn't

Oh.... darn.

[Dr. Strange]

118. I don't think the jurors are in physical danger.

But it wouldn't surprise me if they were harassed.

Especially if Spike Lee gets their addresses.

[Sissyk]

123. What's your point? Did you read that?

Zimmerman traced the tweets — which he said have been retweeted by actor-director Spike Lee — to a man in California. Zimmerman has implored the man to stop and said he received this response, "Black power all day. No justice, no peace" and an obscenity.

Which HE said have been retweeted by Spike Lee. Which HE said. Where's the evidence?

Zimmerman has implored THE MAN to stop (I read it as the one that sent the text "Black power all day. etc etc&quot NOT Spike Lee.

Another point: It doesn't make it right, but they thought this was Zimmerman. Zimmerman, who the majority think got away with murder. Not a juror.

Take your fears somewhere else. I've seen zero evidence that Spike Lee or black men are out to get the jurors. They'll be just fine.

[Dr. Strange]

124. The evidence?

It was Spike Lee's Twitter account. He apologized for it. He even settled with them.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101485995

Like it or not, some people think the jurors deserve harassment. (There's already been one (deleted) post in this thread advocating just that.)

[Sissyk]

125. Thanks for that link.

That probably would have been the correct one to post as it does have all the information, unlike the other (or I'm just not reading well).

Some people = one deleted post on DU?

I still think the jurors are just fine. Anyway, it's the law. All jurors names are released. The judge DID withhold these jurors names though for all this time, which I think is great.

Also, I can't really think of the last time I've seen vigilante justice. Can you? Except in movies.

[Dr. Strange]

141. Well, again, I'm not worried about "vigilante justice"...

in the sense that someone will go after the jurors. But I think there might be some harassment via telephone or something similar.

[lpbk2713]

83. Good luck finding jurors in the future.

I sure as hell wouldn't want to serve knowing that my ID would be released simply because
you never can make everyone happy and some people take this shit way too seriously.

[Blue_Tires]

84. Judging by this jury's performance, maybe it's addition by subtraction

Did everyone in this thread just completely ignore post #50? You know, about this being a standard procedure according to law?

Holy damn there's more DU outrage over this than the actual verdict(!)

[Sissyk]

86. IT Happens each and every time!

I bet it does even in your state.

[Aerows]

137. Me either

I'll make some sort of shit up to make sure I'm not picked.

[bravenak]

87. So what?

It's the law. Deal with it. Being a juror does not mean you get to be anonymous forever. I am suprised its been sheilded this long, since florida doesnt usually do that.

Anybody worrying for the lives of the jurors need to explain who the hell they thing is going to harm the jurors and why they think that since jurors are not usually murdered for a verdict. Wtf DU??

[davidpdx]

89. I'm glad they haven't printed the names in the paper

As much as I disagreed with the verdict, I hope that the jurors are left alone. They did what they were suppose to do. Tracking them down wouldn't change anything.

[NaturalHigh]

90. Gee...who wouldn't want to serve on a jury now?

[mwrguy]

94. Now they'll never be executives at Mozilla

Poor, poor racist jurors.

[Shoulders of Giants]

100. I hope people leave the jurors alone

I blame Law enforcement who did not prosecute the case, collect evidence, etc, far more than I blame the jurors. Its not the jurors fault the prosecution sucked because of all the terrible stuff that went down. I hate reading this sentence "Attempts to reach the jurors by phone and in-person Thursday were unsuccessful. " Leave them alone!

[Dawson Leery]

102. This is wrong.

There need to be laws against such actions. Few will want to serve on juries if they run the risk of their identities being made public.

[Demo_Chris]

103. It seems like secret juried wluld undermine the integrity of our jury system, right? nt

[Donald Ian Rankin]

112. As much as jurors fearing reprisals? N.T.

[Demo_Chris]

116. Reprisals from whom? Were spmeone to go 'vigilante' they would target Zimmerman...

Not some random jurist. In any case, this clearly does not happen very often.

Public juries are as IMPORTANT as not having secret State witnesses, and for the same reasons.

[treestar]

115. Yes, and it's surprising people think it is a secret to start with

[Vashta Nerada]

111. The names of jurors in high-profile cases should never be released.

No matter what the verdict was.

Even though I absolutely disagree with the verdict that the particular jury reached in the Zimmerman case, I still think it's absolutely disgusting that their names were released.

[JustAnotherGen]

119. Oh well

In reading this thread it appears that Florida Law allows for the names to be released. Sunshine and stuff ya know.

The people who were angry - we've taken action. The jurors are non starters in those actions. They don't register.

The angry mobs from "the right" agreed with their decision and the angry mobs from "the left" are focused on Snowden, Manning and Greenwald.

The people who know that the ONLY name that matters here is Trayvon Martin - we could care less what either one of those angry mobs does or doesn't do. Just get out of our way when reach down and lift up a young black man who is getting treated like shit in America. Stay out of my way when I question why black little girls in Pre school and kindergarten are targeted maliciously for suspension.

Just stay out of our way - focus on your guns, your pot, your porn, your god, your guns, your flag (depending on which mob you fall into). Stay out of our way and we'll all get along just fine.

[NOLALady]

146. Hell Yeah!

Just stay out of our Way!!!

[alarimer]

132. I'll do my best to get out of jury duty, if my name is going to be made public.

No way in hell do I want to be harassed and hounded the way most jurors are, no matter what they do.

I meant in high profile cases. Most penny-ante stuff doesn't draw media attention. But media attention draws crazies.

[X_Digger]

135. Jurors aren't anonymous forever (outside DU, of course!)

This is especially important for things like grand juries. In Houston there was quite the scandal when a person was no-billed by a grand jury- only to find out when the grand jury was dismissed that the person under investigation was the political opponent of the jury foreman.

http://blog.bennettandbennett.com/2011/11/live-by-the-hatchet-die-by-the-hatchet.html

[MO_Moderate]

140. They'll be ok

The emotional rhetoric won't lead to any violence.
Deep down, even those who choose to ignore the evidence know that the jury came to the only legal and logical verdict.

[Hoyt]

145. Another gun fancier stands behind george Zimmerman and SYG against unarmed

black teenagers.

[MO_Moderate]

147. And more substituting facts with emotional hyperbole

Good job.

[Hoyt]

148. Like someone who is into gunz is objective about stalking and intimidating

an unarmed teenager.