[Gay State Conservative]

On what charge? It's only if Zimmerman is convicted in FL that Federal hate crime laws come into play.

My goodness..I've never even been to law school and I know that that's wrong.Can you tell me what happened to the cops involved in the *original* Rodney King matter after they were acquitted of all charges by a California state jury? I'll give you a hint...the name "Reno" comes into play.

And BTW...we wouldn't be talking *just* about hate crimes...think "violation of civil rights".

[the_Watchman]

In the Rodney King case the Feds didn’t move in until after the innocent verdict was issued on the local charges. Perhaps the best outcome for Zimmerman might be to have a state case drawn out until after Jan 20, 2013 when Holder won’t be around to use him as a political football.

If a lame-duck Holder; i.e., after an Obama loss, gets impatient and attempts to indict before the state is done, it would be really, really juicy for the incoming DOJ to withdraw Federal charges just like he did in the NBPP voter intimidation case. Of course, I’m just dreaming. :)

[Ken H]

My goodness..I've never even been to law school and I know that that's wrong.Can you tell me what happened to the cops involved in the *original* Rodney King matter after they were acquitted of all charges by a California state jury?

Yes. I believe they were charged with violation of civil rights under color of authority.

And BTW...we wouldn't be talking *just* about hate crimes...think "violation of civil rights".

So show me the statute.

[Ken H]

After petitioners, Los Angeles police officers, were acquitted on state charges of assault and excessive use of force in the beating of a suspect during an arrest, they were convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 242 of violating the victim's constitutional rights under color of law.

-- Koon v. United States (94-1664), 518 U.S. 81 (1996)

http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/94-1664.ZS.html