The Florida prosecutor in the Trayvon Martin shooting case pleaded with Circuit Judge Debra Nelson on Friday to impose a gag order on all attorneys involved.
Twenty-nine year-old George Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder for the February shooting of Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty claiming self-defense.
Bernie de la Rionda, Assistant State Attorney, wants the order imposed because he believes George Zimmerman’s attorney, Mark O’Mara, has been using a website, social and news media to influence potential jurors in the case.
The Assistant State Attorney challenged “O’Mara’s motives and ethics in publicly questioning the credibility of potential witnesses in the high-profile case,” according to the Huffington Post.
De la Rionda told the judge: “My concern is if we are going to be able to pick a jury in Seminole County or anywhere else in the state of Florida?…Commenting on the credibility of witnesses? Why do we have an ethical rule about that?”
O’Mara denied crossing ethical lines, saying his unique approach to the case is necessary to combat attempts by the Trayvon Martin’s parents to paint Zimmerman as a “racist murderer.”
O’Mara explained to the judge: “We had to do something to deal with the enormity of information flowing in the case,” he said. “And we did it in a way we thought was principally presented.”
Judge Nelson delayed issuing a written ruling until Monday, after listening to more than an hour-and-a-half of arguments.
Judge Nelson also ruled on other motions, including setting a date for a hearing on the “Stand Your Ground” self-defense immunity. The date is set for 45 days before trial. George Zimmerman’s murder trial was previously scheduled by the judge for June 10. A status hearing is scheduled for mid-December.
