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April 16, 2012 5:18 PM

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George Zimmerman's attorney Mark O' Mara files request for judge to recuse herself from the Trayvon Martin case

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

George Zimmerman (center) and his attorney Mark O'Mara

/ CBS

(CBS) SANFORD, Fla. - Mark O' Mara, George Zimmerman's attorney, filed a request that the judge assigned to his client's case recuse herself on Monday, reports CBS affiliate WKMG.

Pictures: George Zimmerman charged with murder

O'Mara met with Zimmerman at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility on Monday to have him sign the motion, which asks for Circuit Court Judge Jessica Recksiedler to recuse herself so that a new judge can be appointed before Zimmerman's bond hearing on Friday.

Zimmerman, 28, is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, 16, on Feb. 26.

Meanwhile, a group of Florida news organizations led by the Miami Herald and including the Associated Press, filed a motion in Seminole County Circuit Court on Monday asking that records in Zimmerman's file be unsealed.

At his first appearance last week, O'Mara asked that the judge seal the records in the case and the judge granted his request.

WKMG reports that those records are normally public under Florida law. The motion by the news organizations says Zimmerman's case doesn't meet the standards that are typically used to create an exemption to those laws.

Complete coverage of the Trayvon Martin case on CBS News

26 Photos

George Zimmerman faces murder charges

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15 Comments +

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by ugacrew April 17, 2012 8:38 AM EDT

I will post this again. Your post is seemingly unbiased and professes an interest in true justice. This is rare.

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by jonesie1 April 21, 2012 12:37 AM EDT: Not everything. Privet funerals, Sex between consenting adults, contract negotiations, Lawyer to client conversation, patient to doctor interaction, surgery, Family dinners, Bathing, ********, Vomiting, And so much more so be specific when you say that people have no right to privacy because my son put his life on the line for your f****** rights not to have people crawl through your life at will. Thank God he didn't die for people like you.

by Weazerdogg April 17, 2012 8:37 AM EDT

Nothing in this country should be done behind closed doors. Nothing!

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by jonesie1 April 21, 2012 12:55 AM EDT: Poor little black boy who was thrown out of school for multiple violent confrontations. Shot by a Hispanic trying to make the world safe after the poor little helpless young adult kicked the living daylights out of him. Oh poor little black boy a victim of his bad home? his mother did say he was a good boy even though his record said he was a violent holy terror. No KKK there or here just real facts and Zimmerman was lucky to kill the attacker no matter his race or age. Zimmerman never hurt anyone one before and probably won't again were as Travon had a long list of clashes with officers and police. I am sure not that 40% of all persons in Jails and Prisons are Black and 35% are Hispanic and 15% are of oriental dissent and 10% are white. The darker the skin the more violent the race. It is Scientifically proven. Not a race hatred thing. Do your research. There are some exceptions. You don't have to agree with anything I say but I have a right to say it and am protected under the constitution and the law to have an opinion and to print that opinion with out fear of repercussions or harassment. And if you want to smart off go ahead but smart mouths are not respected.


by BUDDYofPA April 17, 2012 8:36 AM EDT: Why not just let Zimmerman's Daddy be the Judge...I'm sure the KKK and all the Bigots out there would be too happy to have this happen.; Reply to this comment


by reality_sanity April 17, 2012 8:24 AM EDT: The judge voluntarily disclosed and appears to have invited this petition prior to the bail hearing, I assume the judge is already prepared to grant the request.

Whether or not Trayvon had ID his phone was reportedly dropped at the scene. Unless his phone was stolen the police had a means to begin to ID the person. Of course then there were reports police did not even access the call logs for the phone for weeks. That could have considerably and unnecessarily slowed the identification of Trayvon.; Reply to this comment

by Cheffo123 April 17, 2012 1:10 AM EDT

Well, if he was 17 then he probably did not have ID on him. How were the police supposed to know who he was? Usually when children go missing parents call hospitals, the police, etc. Apparently this family did not do that. As for the investigative work, the more the police and the media investigate the more evidence piles up in favor of Zimmerman. So sure, keep investigating.

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by andie52 April 17, 2012 7:18 AM EDT: They took Zimmerman's word for ir and thought he was a thief so it was 3 days of the Martin's frantic calls to find his body at the morgue the judge should be recused what kind of game are they playing assigning a judge who never tried a homicide such a high oprofile case?


by ugacrew April 17, 2012 8:25 AM EDT: The police had this young man's cell phone. If they were interested in seeking an identification, they could have simply used the phone to do a "call back," asking the respondent if they recognized the number. Further, they could have contacted the cell phone company to determine who the phone was registered to. This police department was not interested in justice at all. Further, when I read posts like yours that are placing blame on the grieving family for not doing what law enforcement personnel are suppose to do, it sickens me. You are blinded by bigotry. I hope you never have to walk in their shoes.


by genus180 April 17, 2012 11:09 AM EDT: due to the media opportunism regarding this event closing the files is a good move to prevent the jury pool from being tainted any further than it already is at this point. Once they are slected and sequestered more information should become available.

by bethevoice April 16, 2012 9:18 PM EDT

If it protects the victim Trayvon & his family to get the fair trial than I'm all for sealing those records. Too often too much gets leaked and it risks the opportunity for getting a conviction.

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by genus180 April 17, 2012 11:01 AM EDT: I see you are already to convict the guy without any evidence. I guess we know what colors your opinion

by debz150 April 16, 2012 6:03 PM EDT

Open the records and let the people see what the facts of this case are in relation to the investigation, evidence, autopsy, and forensics.

Given the fact that this 16 year old adolescent was killed and his parents were not notified by the police makes it look suspicious to me.

Let the family & the people know if this was a professionally handled investigation where all people involved did a complete/non prejudice job.

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by ugacrew April 17, 2012 8:28 AM EDT: Yours is an intelligent, seemingly unbiased post. Rare.


by genus180 April 17, 2012 10:58 AM EDT: The jury pool is already poluted. after they are selected and possibly secluded, then there should be more information forthcoming. At least I hope so. the more evidence that leaks out about Georges innocence the less likely the race riot will take effect.

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George Zimmerman's attorney Mark O' Mara files request for judge to recuse herself from the Trayvon Martin case

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