More in-depth questioning of the 40 person-jury pool began in the State vs. George Zimmerman on Wednesday, after Circuit Judge Debra Nelson read the formal second-degree murder charge.
Prosecutor Bernie De la Rionda, after congratulating the potential jurors for making it though to the second round said, he was “seeking justice.”
After seven days of jury selection, 40 potential jurors have been selected from which six would be chosen, along with four alternates, to serve on the Zimmerman jury.
Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed teen. Zimmerman has said he shot Martin in self-defense.
De la Rionda asked potential jurors if they know attorneys, judges or persons associated with the law and if so, whether this would interfere with their ability to be a juror. Many of the 40 indicated that they knew attorneys, had family or friends who were attorneys, but that this won’t play a role in their deliberations or their ability to render a verdict.
Juror B-37 said she was married to an attorney, knows personal injury attorneys where she works, but that none of this would interfere with her deliberations, if selected to serve on the jury.
Juror K-95 said that he knows several attorneys, mostly tax and contract lawyers, but no criminal lawyer.
“Is there anything that will interfere with you being able to deliberate on the case, interject in these proceedings and in being able to render a verdict?” De la Rionda probed further.
“No, sir,” K-95 responded.
“Do you know any judges or people associated with the law that will interfere with you being able to be a juror?” De la Rionda asked.
Juror I-33 said she knew a few judges, but along with the other 39, said that this would not interfere with her ability to be fair.
De la Rionda questioned jurors also, on whether anyone had ever been arrested, if they had been a crime victim and whether any family members or close friends had ever been arrested and treated unfairly at the arrest or prosecution stage.
Several potential jurors indicated they had been arrested. Many said they had not been prosecuted because of insufficient evidence by the state.
B-12 said she had been arrested when she was 17 years, but the case was thrown out.
“Would this experience factor in? Can you set this aside completely and not hold it against the state or the defendant?,” De la Rionda queried.
B-12, like all potential jurors who had been arrested said, she won’t hold this against the state or the defendant.
Three potential jurors said they had friends or knew of someone who had been arrested and had not been treated fairly. However, they all said they would not hold this against the state or the defense.
Potential jurors will likely face questions on gun ownership, self-defense and race, when attorneys for the state and defense probe deeper on how they feel about the case.
Judge Debra Nelson adjourned for the lunch break just after 12:30 p.m. Questioning of potential jurors will resume at 1:45 p.m.
