Posted on 04/12/2012 3:51:09 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz appeared on MSNBC’s Hardball where fill-in host Michel Smerconish asked him his opinions of the arrest warrant issued and carried out for alleged Trayvon Martin murderer, George Zimmerman. Dershowitz called the affidavit justifying Zimmerman’s arrest “not only thin, it’s irresponsible.” He went on to criticize the decision to charge Zimmerman for second degree murder by special prosecutor Angela Cory as being politically motivated.
“You’ve seen the affidavit of probable cause. What do you make of it,” Smerconish asked. “It won’t suffice,” Dershowitz replied without hesitation.
“Most affidavits of probable cause are very thin. This is so thin that it won’t make it past a judge on a second degree murder charge,” Dershowitz said. “There’s simply nothing in there that would justify second degree murder.”
Dershowitz said that the elements that would constitute that crime are non-existent in the affidavit. “It’s not only thin, it’s irresponsible,” said Dershowitz.
Dershowitz went on to strongly criticize Cory’s decision to move forward with the case against Zimmerman. “I think what you have here is an elected public official who made a campaign speech last night for reelection when she gave her presentation and overcharged. This case will not – if the evidence is no stronger than what appears in the probable cause affidavit – this case will result in an acquittal.”
Smerconish identified the total lack of any mention of the supposed fight that occurred between Martin and Zimmerman prior to Martin being shot. He said he was disappointed that he did not see any mention of that conflict that led to Martin’s murder.
“But it’s worse than that,” said Dershowitz. “It’s irresponsible and unethical in not including material that favors the defendant.”
“This affidavit does not even make it to probable cause,” Dershowitz concluded. “everything in the affidavit is completely consistent with a defense of self-defense. Everything.”
Watch the segment below via MSNBC:
(VIDEO AT LINK)
Cool!
You know things are bad when Alan Dershowitz, a leftist, thinks this case is a total waste of time. Zimmerman is going to sue these bastards left and right once this circus is over with
Agreed. This is going to lead to a lot of violence. Zimmerman is not going to deal because he is all but certain to win on these charges. If the judge throws it out or the jury finds him not guilty....watch out.
Ping for later.
Man - if you don’t even have Dershowitz on your side ...
What does that say about your case ???
Don't be so sure. This will probably go to trial and Z will either be acquitted or win his appeal.
I'm no engineer but I know a railroad when I see one.
Maybe Prof. D. should offer up some pro-bono consults with GZ’s lawyer... or maybe this is his way of doing it - and getting himself all kinds of media.
Mr. Dershowitz swerves into the truth now and again....
Richard Jewell X 10.
The Feds no doubt already have their own Civil Rights Violations affidavit already printed up, just waiting for a date and a signature when necessary.
i didn’t see any video at the link, what am i missing?
“Put Zimmerman through hell for votes. Right. Why not. “
That’s a two-edged sword and presupposes that the majority of the voters in Sanford want Zimmerman tried.
Maybe she just lost her re-election.
It almost looks like Alan Dershowitz is getting a few conservative traits in his old age...
” Dershowitz went on to strongly criticize Cory’s decision to move forward with the case against Zimmerman. “I think what you have here is an elected public official who made a campaign speech last night for reelection when she gave her presentation and overcharged. This case will not – if the evidence is no stronger than what appears in the probable cause affidavit – this case will result in an acquittal.””
“But it’s worse than that,” said Dershowitz. “It’s irresponsible and unethical in not including material that favors the defendant.”
Okay....this is verbatim my opinion. We’ll see just how sleazy this gets.
“
It depends on the make up of the jury.
Dershowitz was also one of a few to defend Sarah Palin when she called what the media was doing to her a “Blood libel” he agreed with her.
” It depends on the make up of the jury. “
The judge could throw it out.
This is pretty serious. Correct me if I am wrong, but is this the same Dershowitz that defended Bill Clinton’s countless shenanigans and called his prosecutors “evil”? He has to know that this is whole escapade is being staged via and for the White House, which means he knows that Obama is running it — or at least setting the strategy.
In other words, he’s moving into direct opposition to Obama. This could indicate the start of a rift in the Liberal establishment into pro-Obama and pro-traditional-establishment types.
Now, supposing that the rift becomes real, how will Obama react?
Uh, Professor Dershowitz has a fatal heart attack, same as Andrew Breitbart?
If this does go to trial, Zimmerman should spend beaucoup time working on his tan... and go into that courtroom as dark as possible.
“Where’s that murdering white bastard Zimmerman?!?”
-PJ
Hadn’t thought of that, but it would be a very bad time for anyone to try and sell him health insurance, wouldn’t it?
Well, he was played by the late great Ron Silver in the movie.
As much of a jerk Dershowitz is, I’d rather be on his side than on the side of the fake Rev. Al and his merry band of lynch man.
Seems like Dershowitz is assuming the judge will not be as politically motivated as the D.A. We’ll see.
Did Dershowitz bump his head...?
To tell you the truth, I think the demonrats bit on this hate Zimmerman bait so hard, not only because they thought he was white, but he also has a “Jewish” name.
When you read “Afro-American” commentary around the net, the claim that Zimmerman’s dad is Jewish seems to matter a lot to them in the injustice department.
That was what Nifong probably thought as well. Didn't work out so well.
I think that senior Dems would love riots to start over this. Not for the riots, but for the response. Florida is not LA. Florida has over 700,000 CCW holders. A CCW caught in the middle of a violent riot where he sees people getting beaten and sees his family threatened is going to open fire, which is going to produce a chain reaction, and you will see hundreds of dead rioters on the ground. That will be the beginning of martial law.
Dershowitz is very unusual. He’s actually an ethical leftist...
I have nothing against leftists in general, because those are their positions and in theory they have thought them out and adopted them. We can argue against their points and discuss our different points of view, which is fine.
But the problem with modern US leftism is that reason then drops away and ideology takes over. No discussion is possible, it’s all about power (which is in their hands), and people like Dershowitz end up being footnotes. In fact, when the radical left really takes over after the next election, he’ll probably be dragged out and shot for being not politically correct.
But in the meantime, I’ll pray for him.
Dershowitz may be a leftist of the highest order, but I don’t think anyone would accuse him of being a dummy. He recognizes a bogus indictment when he sees one, the fact that he actually chose to go public with his beliefs about it comes as a surprise to me, though.
Cory is not of Seminole County, where I vote, she is in Jacksonville/Duval area. “They” snatched it away from local AG. I can only presume he did not march to the beat of “their” drum!
" It depends on the make up of the jury. " The judge could throw it out.
1.) Yes it does, but even a sympathetic jury may fear for their lives.
2.) I wouldn't count on any judge doing the right thing with the whole world watching. This incident has been overwhelmed by politically correct politics. I could see it being overturned on appeal, long after the election.
Was Corey prosecution during the trial when the little girl was killed by her mother? (Casey/Caylee)
Ron Silver is dead?
Yes, but still a leftist. Like Larry Tribe, he believes the 2nd is clearly an individual right, but would go much further than I in allowing the states (and Feds) to control that individual right. And though Roe is bad law, but there's a limit to what the states may regulate. Which is why Tribe, Alan is way to controversial, isn't on the Court. The nation would be better off with more on the left like this.
He's talking about the law, not the real world.
Besides the fact that the law has very little to do with this entire cluster f*ck, he's not taking into consideration the threats the jurors and their families will get. The New Black Panthers will put a bounty on the jurors if they acquit. It won't be done as openly as they did with Zimmerman. But you can bet that it will be made known to the jurors what might happen to them or their families if Zimmerman is acquitted. It is asking a hell of a lot of a person with a spouse and two little kids to follow their conscience and acquit some guy they don't even know at the risk of their own family.
All of the banana republics in North America are not south of the Rio Grande.
My guess is the judge has already been lined up.
It’s helpful to remember that Professor Dershowitz ALWAYS thinks that the prosecution lacks even probable cause, and that the defendant will be acquitted. I’m not saying he is wrong here (quite the opposite), just that this it is not surprising to hear this from him.
Be funny if Alan volunteers his services, pro bono, to Mr. Zimmerman’s defense.
i think dershowitz has been reading your posts on FR. :>)
The republican governor appointed her because he said he doesn’t have any faith in the state attorney. I’m sure he hopes to get a few black votes. I hope he loses a bunch of ccw votes.
I have read some of that commentary, and you are right, the possible “Jewishness” of Zimmerman’s father is prominently mentioned. The MSM is editing a lot of that out when they bother at all to cover the outrageous behavior of some of these militants. I am convinced that President Obama opened his mouth about this case before he saw a picture of Zimmerman.
The affidavit says Zimmerman “profiled” Martin. I wonder if they quoted Newsweek to support that allegation.
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