An arrest must be coming soon

[malaise]

Zimmerman just hired a new high power attorney

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/gunman-george-zimmerman-hires-new-defense-attorney/nMJTN/
<snip>
Gunman George Zimmerman has hired a new defense attorney out of Maitland in the case of slain teen Trayvon Martin.

WFTV learned that Hal Uhrig has joined attorney, Craig Sonner, who was preparing Zimmerman's defense.

-------------------
Who is paying for the high power lawyer!

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. They hired an actual lawyer

And are finally shutting up?

[malaise]

2. I want to know who is paying

[Junkdrawer]

4. The NR(We Got Your Back)A????

I don't think that has to be disclosed.

[malaise]

10. LOL

No wonder he's high powered

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. A lawyer group with connections

Offered 10k the other day. So yup, pretty much.

[K Gardner]

17. Here's the New Lawyer's Bio...

Mr. Uhrig graduated from the University of Florida College of Law in 1974. Before that he had spent over 6 years with the Gainesville Police Department, where he was a Sergeant at the time of graduation from law school. Since that time he has served as the Police Legal Advisor for the Gainesville Police Department; as General Counsel and Legal Advisor to the Orange County Sheriff's Department (4 years); as Police Legal Advisor to 10 Central Florida law enforcement agencies; as President of the Florida Association of Police Attorneys; As Vice President of the Central Florida Criminal Justice Council; as Assistant Attorney General for the State of Florida in the RICO and Organized Crime section of the Attorney General's Office; as an Assistant Public Defender for 3 years, trying hundreds of criminal cases; as an Associate Professor in the Master's Level Program in Criminal Justice at Rollins College; as an instructor in Criminal and Constitutional Law at Columbia College, as a Police Standards Instructor at four separate accredited Police Academies and as a private criminal defense trial attorney. Mr. UHrig was the lead defense attorney in the nation's first four DNA evidence trials and has appeared on the Today Show as well as numerous radio programs over the years.

EDUCATION:

1964-1965
United State Coast Guard Academy

1972
University of Florida, BA in Political Science & English

1974
University of Florida, JD from the College of Law

1974
FBI National Academy, Legal Officers School

1975
Case Western Reserve University, Post Doctoral work in Public Safety Law

EXPERIENCE:

1969-1975
Gainesville Police Department - Police Officer, Police Sergeant, Police Legal Advisor

1975
Special Assistant State Attorney for the Eighth Judicial Circuit

1975-1976
Partner- Winnie, Winnie & Uhrig, PA. --- criminal defense

1976-1979
Orange County Sheriff's Department-- General Counsel and Legal Advisor to the Department and the Orange County Jail

1976-1979
Assistant State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit, - handled all extradition litigation for the State Attorney's Office

1977-1979
Police Legal Advisor for the police departments of Winter Park, Maitland, Apopka, Winter Garden, Ocoee, Oakland, Windermere, Eatonville, and Edgewater

1976- 1980
Instructor in Criminal and Constitutional Law at Columbia College

1978-1979
Associate Professor in the Master's Program in Criminal Justice at Rollins College

1980
Assistant Attorney General- State of Florida- assigned to RICO and organized Crime

1981-1984
Assistant Public Defender, Ninth Judicial Circuit (Orlando)- trial attorney and Division Chief

1984-present
Private practice, engaged in the practice of criminal defense.

MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS:

Mr. Uhrig is now, or has previously been a member of the following:
•The Florida Bar (Criminal Law Section)
•The American Bar Association
•The Alachua County Bar Association (Criminal Law Section)
•The Orange County Bar Association (Criminal Law Section)
•The Seminole County Bar Association (Criminal Law Section)
•The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
•The Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
•The Florida Academy of Trial Lawyers
•The National DUI College
•The Central Florida Criminal Justice Council
•The Florida Association of Police Attorneys (Past President)
•The Florida Sheriff's Association (Legal Officers Section)
•The International Association of Chiefs of Police (Legal Officer Section)
•The Vollie Williams Chapter, Inns of Court-- Sanford, Florida

[JDPriestly]

33. They're nervous now. The bluff didn't work.

Still, you can't say whether Zimmerman will actually be charged, much less found guilty.

I hope people aren't thinking that we know the facts in this case or can predict the outcome. We all have theories about what we think happened. But it is amazing how the evidence viewed by a jury can result in a different outcome than we expect.

[Junkdrawer]

3. Wasn't there a Grand Jury decision promised for the 10th?

He'll be charged. But Mike Papantonio thinks the police and the SA botched (if that's the right word) the mess so badly, he may walk.

[malaise]

5. Well if they let him walk he'll either end up opening fire on others

or he'll self destruct or both - one way or another he is nothing but trouble.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. So badly

The FBI was looking for physical, read round, at the scene apart of interviewing witnesses.

[X_Digger]

19. Grand Jury to convene on the 10th. Not a decision. n/t

[Cali_Democrat]

30. The State Attorney has already said she could bypass the grand jury and file state charges

A grand jury isn't required when prosecuting these kinds of criminal cases.

[Kaleva]

7. Where in the article does it say the lawyer is "high power"?

Your post is interesting enough without having to try to put bells and whistles in it.

[malaise]

8. Do some reading on Hal Uhrig n/t

[Kaleva]

18. He's part of a small law firm in Florida

"We limit our practice to the defense of DUI and other criminal charges in the State and Federal Courts of Florida, and to the closely related representation in Domestic and Repeat Violence Injunction proceedings."

http://www.defensegroup.com/

He appears to be best known for this:

"George Zimmerman has hired attorney Hal Uhrig, stations reported tonight. The name will be familiar to people who followed the Casey Anthony coverage, because Uhrig offered analysis for Fox-owned WOFL-Channel 35."

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/tag/hal-uhrig

[malaise]

21. Ok then

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002513604

[HiPointDem]

24. A firm that's primary business is defending DUIs doesn't meet my standard of "high-powered".

[uponit7771]

9. Anyone hear NPR this morning? Basically under FL SYG law if you kill someone the police can NOT

...arrest you under SYG if they see any evidence that you "felt" that you were in danger at any time.

She explained that for some laws prosecuting would begin at arrest but not for SYG

[onehandle]

13. Fucking gun lunatics and their paranoid laws.

Repeal this bullshit law.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

28. You are aware it applies to all weapons and not just guns?

[frylock]

42. right. the law was driven by the powerful pepperspray and aluminum bat industry.

[onehandle]

45. Bullshit. It was the rolled up newspaper industry.

When will someone stand up for puppies who's only crime was a little piddling?

[dmr]

20. I'd say once he left his vehicle he became culpable for

whatever life fearing excuse he'll try to pull on the court.

But more importantly, once he began to stalk Trayvon, then that law should embrace Trayvon, & no one else.

Once Zimmerman became Trayvon's predator, he lost any right to SYG, imho.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

27. The NPR commentator was wrong

and a bit of a bozo as well.

I have sent NPR and email explaining their errors

[got root]

36. lol - don't deign to share

[ProgressiveProfessor]

37. Why recirculate their foul ups?

And for the record, I am root...

[got root]

38. copout

[ProgressiveProfessor]

41. The email is on another machine but working from memory...

NPR is making the same bad assumptions that many are in ignoring the basic requirement for using lethal force in self defense...that there is reasonable fear of GBI or death. If there was not, SYG does not apply. If it was present, it was already justifiable homicide and all SYG means that he did not have a duty to retreat.

Regardless, I still have root and Zimmerman is still not in jail but should be IMO

[got root]

43. be that as it may

that is the official reason stated for no arrest.

this gun lobby law needs to go, ASAP.

we have plenty of self defense laws on the books, this one only encourages this kinda thing, and then ambiguity in trying to decide when to arrest, and letting justice system sort out the details.

that, at the very least is what most reasonable people are taking away from this tragedy.

Task force launched to review Stand Your Ground law after Trayvon Martin shooting
...

Sen. Chris Smith, frustrated by what he calls slow movement by Gov. Rick Scott after the shooting death of unarmed teen Trayvon Martin, is launching a task force to review the controversial law at the center of the case.

more...
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/03/2729269/task-force-launched-to-review.html#storylink=cpy

[ProgressiveProfessor]

44. We have statements from the city, but not the bubba who made the decision

and do not have a real clue as to what the reasoning was.

As for that so called task force...its a pol up for re election and his task force is a farce.

[JDPriestly]

34. And that is the big question in this case.

Who had the right to reasonably believe he was in danger -- and not only who had it but who had it first.

I think Trayvon had that right.

I think that Zimmerman was the attacker, and Trayvon the victim.

The problem with the law is that it can be interpreted as NPR interpreted it -- to mean that the killer gets the benefit of the doubt. The killer gets to argue that he reasonably feared losing his life to the aggression of the victim.

But reasonableness of an action is a legal concept that requires applying a legal test -- normally.

This law can be interpreted as completely throwing away a huge, very important legal concept in these cases.

I am horrified at the thought.

What happens in this case is not as important as protecting that fundamental concept in our legal system. What would a reasonable person (doctor, lawyer, driver, homeowner, Neighborhood Watch person) have done under the circumstances?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

39. Both you and NPR are wrong

If Zimmerman's actions failed to meet the requirements for the use of deadly force, SYG is not relevant. It is based on the reasonable man concept, not what is available in hindsight or in the mind of the shooter at the time.

[JDPriestly]

47. I agree with you, but the Sanford authorities apparently

did not see it as we see it.

[underpants]

12. How? Where is the money coming from? the NRA?

some rightwing operation that wants to throw its money into a political pit and weird out ALL of the minority and most of the independent vote?

[malaise]

14. Wish I knew

[onehandle]

15. Clearly.

The NRA has a lot riding on this poster child.

[kramerv]

29. You kidding?

This will only help Wayne Lapierre and the NRA. Fear gets gun owners to the polls. Remember 1994? The assault weapons ban was an incredible boom to the gun industry Glock build and empire off of 8 years of Bill Clinton's anti-gun actions. Obama won't touch gun control with a twenty foot pole.



Out of curiosity, if Zimm walks FL won't allow a civil suit right?

[onehandle]

46. Exactly right. Gun heroes like McVeigh, Zimmerman, and Furrow bring in the bucks for the NRA.

Thus, Poster Children.

They love freaks.

[Canuckistanian]

22. Both the lawyers are doing this pro bono

Heard that tonight on Mark Thompson's show on Sirius Left channel.

Sounds like the lawyers are getting into this for the obvious advances in their careers by being involved in a (potentially) famous case.

[underpants]

23. OK

I can see that. It makes sense.

[Junkdrawer]

25. I think a lawyer is only required to disclose to his client if a third party pays....

Interest of Person Paying for a Lawyer's Service

[13] A lawyer may be paid from a source other than the client, including a co-client, if the client is informed of that fact and consents and the arrangement does not compromise the lawyer's duty of loyalty or independent judgment to the client. See Rule 1.8(f). If acceptance of the payment from any other source presents a significant risk that the lawyer's representation of the client will be materially limited by the lawyer's own interest in accommodating the person paying the lawyer's fee or by the lawyer's responsibilities to a payer who is also a co-client, then the lawyer must comply with the requirements of paragraph (b) before accepting the representation, including determining whether the conflict is consentable and, if so, that the client has adequate information about the material risks of the representation.

http://www.in.gov/judiciary/rules/prof_conduct/index.html

So excuse me if I take the Pro Bono claim with a grain of salt. Maybe, maybe not.

[cr8tvlde]

32. That's what PACs are for ...

I know because I watch Stephen Colbert!

[JDPriestly]

35. But there is also the fact that the macho reputation earned just

by handling a case like this could draw a lot of DUI cases to a law firm. So, one giveaway that makes you famous might be a smart investment for a law firm in this competitive economy. Still, attorney-client privilege would apply to the communications between Zimmerman and his attorney. But they would not apply to the attorney and third persons the lawyer does not represent.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

40. Its the Johnny Cochran/ F Lee Bailey approach to building a law practice

[cr8tvlde]

16. Lawyers are ambulance chasers

and they salivate to get to a case like this. Means way more than money. Publicity...good or bad...best advertising around.

[shimonitanegi]

26. Even O'Reilly said yesterday something like

an arrest must be made soon for the sake of justice!

[cr8tvlde]

31. It must really be getting hot in the right wing kitchen...wow n/t