Lawyers

   A lawyer's job is to defend the client, and a lawyer will often say the darnedest things in an effort to discredit responsibility or fault for a client's alleged actions. And in doing so, it seems lawyers want jurors who are intelligent but don't think. That is, they are smart enough to understand what the lawyer is saying, but not so smart as to see through the smoke.
   Herewith, some comments on the trial of George Zimmerman in Florida.

   There is no question that Zimmerman shot teenager Trayvon Martin; that was acknowledged early on, when the community security guard described the shooting to police. When charged with murder, Zimmerman pleaded self defense, relying on Florida's "stand your ground" law. During summation, the defense lawyer argued that a person need not actually be in danger, but only that the person fear he be in danger. That, the defense said, is enough to justify shooting someone, in self defense. The defense lawyer, while acknowledging that the teenager was unarmed, noted that he did have a weapon -- the sidewalk and his fists, which supposedly were used to inflict head injuries on Zimmerman.
    Other experts have pointed out that while on the telephone to a 911 operator, Zimmerman was told not to follow the person he felt was "up to no good." Instead, legal analysts say, the appropriate thing to do would be to walk away. Call police, and stay away. Let law enforcement officers deal with a situation that may -- or may not -- be dangerous.
   However, Florida law says a person is entitled to "stand your ground." But discretion is often a wiser course. 

   Meanwhile, the jury retired for the day Friday evening, and was scheduled to resume deliberations Saturday morning. One charge is murder. An alternate is manslaughter. At issue is whether Zimmerman was justified in the shooting because he feared he was in imminent danger, and therefore was not guilty.
   Either way, Zimmerman is not likely to be able to stay in the same town. If guilty, he goes to jail. If not, he may have to deal with irate citizens, or leave town to start over elsewhere with a new identity.

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   Addendum: By Saturday evening, July 13, 2013, the verdict came in. Not guilty. Both sides presented their cases, the jury deliberated and decided. It's time to respect that verdict.