So Norm Wolfinger, who usually runs unopposed, had two opponents this year....

[Junkdrawer]

On Edit: See New DUer StayClassie's posts at the bottom of the thread. Good Stuff.


From Norm's "Meet Your State Attorney" Page:

..

State Attorney Wolfinger’s two-county district encompasses nearly a million people with one county a suburban neighborhood of metropolitan Orlando, the other the home to high-tech industry and the Kennedy Space Center. The district is conservative and so is Mr. Wolfinger. Since defeating the incumbent State Attorney in 1984, Mr. Wolfinger has only once faced opposition, which he defeated by 70 percent of the vote.

...

http://sa18.state.fl.us/nwbio.htm

But this year:

Former assistant attorneys run for office
By Jessica J. Saggio | October 12, 2011

As election season has made its presence known on the horizon, two candidates are already underway in kicking off the race for state attorney here in Seminole County.

Both Republican candidate Philip Archer and Democratic candidate Ryan Vescio announced their campaigns last week for the Brevard and Seminole County state attorney position. The race is part of the general election for circuit 18 and voting will be held on November 6, 2012.

...

http://www.seminolechronicle.com/vnews/display.v/ART/4e95bceaaeec4

Say, isn't there some gun right's organization that puts the Fear of God into Florida politicians?



And could maybe, just maybe, this go some way toward explaining why a sitting State's Attorney shows up at a crime scene and overrules a homicide detective, allowing Zimmerman to walk uncharged?

[leveymg]

1. Did you catch the 2006 award by Alberto Gonzales for "Wolfinger's work on gun crime violence"?

His Neighborhood State Attorney’s Initiative, a community-based prosecution unit, is on the frontline of futuristic prosecution models. In May 2006, U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales presented Wolfinger an award for his office being recognized as the Outstanding Local Prosecutor's Office in the country. The Award was given for State Attorney Wolfinger's work on gun crime violence prevention and prosecution under President George Bush's Project Safe Neighborhood initiative.

He's "outstanding local prosecutor", all right.

[Junkdrawer]

2. Kick

[Junkdrawer]

3. The NRA's "Lady Gaga of guns."....

The 4'11" power behind the "Stand your Ground" legislation

This law was NRA driven from the get go. It was not introduced because of citizen demand or need. It was introduced and passed by the Florida legislature purely because the NRA wanted it. We can all thank Marion Hammer.

"So maybe call her the Lady Gaga of guns. She certainly is wild about firearms. “I’m four foot- 11, I’m 67 years old. If you come at me, and I felt that my life was in danger or that I was going to be injured, I wouldn’t hesitate to shoot you,” she declared the other day.

But do not call her simply a lobbyist. To do so drastically underestimates her while equally overestimating the state legislature.

Hammer does not so much lobby as orchestrate the legislature to do her bidding and therefore the bidding of the NRA, where she formerly served for three years as its first woman president. She continued to serve as a consultant and lobbyist known for standing her own ground. The NRA credits her with being the propelling force behind the Stand Your Ground Law that the Sanford chief of police and local prosecutor cited when they instructed the investigating detectives not to arrest George Zimmerman for shooting 17 year-old Trayvon Martin in February.

She has acknowledged having a hand in actually drafting the enabling Stand Your Ground legislation back in 2004. She introduced it through a proxy, State Sen. Dennis Baxley, whom she had previously arranged to receive the NRA’s 2004 Defender of Freedom Award."

<snip>

Yet, she does not seem to be one of those NRA executives who are really just doing the bidding of the gun industry by cynically seeking to manipulate decent working people with the fear that government is trying to take away their rights. She seems to be a true believer and she has proposed a simple way to ensure gun rights.

“Get rid of all the liberals,” she said.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/03/28/marion-hammer-woman-behind-stand-your-ground.html

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=488695

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Well that is an interesting detail

This reads like a bad penny crime novel.

For the record, I am sure writers are taking notes, for the bad penny novel, no pun.

[Junkdrawer]

5. We all try to come up with interesting theories, but it's always the mundane...

the filthy, pedestrian mundane, that turns out to be the truth.

And, in Florida (and Pennsylvania where I live) there is nothing so mundane as a politician trying to curry favor with the NRA.

Interesting that this year he has two opponents. Wonder if other normally unopposed SAs find themselves with opponents this year? Without opponents, one wonders if George Z. would be behind bars now.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Add this to your quiver

http://www.sott.net/articles/show/243620-Texas-lawyers-offer-10-000-for-George-Zimmerman-s-legal-defense

[Junkdrawer]

7. Yep. And where did George learn "The Magic Words" that hypothetically had Police Chief Bill Lee...

calling in the SA?

Again, the mundane. Betcha George frequented Gun Forums where such knowledge is passed around more frequently than lo-cal cookie recipes on a Weight Watchers forum.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. I bet you are right

what is making this important is that now it questions the laws themselves.

If he is a gun nut, he is gonna get them laws in trouble... irony does not start to say it.

[Junkdrawer]

9. A kick in light of the latest revelations....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002512438

[Stayclassie]

10. He's retiring

I live in Brevard County. Wolfinger announced his retirement years ago. Some say he's already retired. The Republican has worked for him for almost twenty years. The Democrat is from Orange County so it's unknown whether he can gain traction.

[maddezmom]

11. Didn't know he is retiring but he did step down from this case

Welcome to DU.

[Junkdrawer]

12. This article from Oct 2011 says "Wolfinger has not announced his plans"

Orange, Brevard prosecutors file for Wolfinger's job

Two prosecutors, one from Orange County and another from Brevard, have filed to run for state attorney in the 18th Judicial Circuit, Seminole and Brevard Counties.

That's the job Norm Wolfinger has held since 1985.

The contest, as it stands now, is between a young lawyer and a veteran manager.

....

Wolfinger has not announced his plans. In a prepared statement sent by email today, he wrote, "Phil Archer would make a fine state attorney."

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-10-05/news/os-state-attorney-candidates-seminole-20111005_1_brevard-prosecutors-18th-judicial-circuit-state-attorney

I also see he ran for the Supreme Court in 1992. If he had plans to seek higher office, they're gone for now....

[Stayclassie]

13. Google William Dillon

William Dillon spent 27 years jail and was innocent. Put away by a dog handler with phony claims. Wolfinger has resisted attempts to open up this case and others affected by this bogus witness. He even opposed compensating Dillon. Even Rick Scott thought that was wrong. That's why Scott was fast to remove him.

[Junkdrawer]

14. Thanks. And thanks for pointing out my error on the "2 opponents" thing...

BTW: Those interested in the Dillon/Preston/Wolfinger thing can read more here:

http://floridainnocence.org/content/?p=1213

But I think you see my main curiosity: It's becoming clear that Wolfinger and Lee are the key players in the Trayvon Martin incident. A little come out on Lee, but Wolfinger remains hidden in the shadows.

Reading between the few lines of your posts, I'm thinking you suspect that prosecutorial laziness may explain much of all this. Do I have that right?

[Stayclassie]

15. Entrenched power

Both the SA and PD in the 18th judicial curcuit have been there forever and no one serious has run against either of them.

The joke used to be that in Brevard, it's not a crime unless a gun is envolved. (apparently now that's no longer true) The SA rarely goes after public corruption.

It would not surprise me if Mr. Zimmerman Sr. is active in the local political scene. I don't know much about Seminole County.

It does surprise me that Wolfinger would be at the Sanford PD on a Sunday night. He's not "hands on" and usually lets his chief deputies handle things. Unless of course the Zimmerman's have friends who can call on favors.

The good ole boy network is alive and well in central Florida.

I will tell you that the right wing local talk show host is intrigued by the Democrat candidate because he has prosecuted public corruption in Orange County and the Republican candidate is just more of the same. Its not a given that the Republican will win the next election.

[Junkdrawer]

16. Today's news that a Grand Jury will not be used may mean:

1.) That the Special Prosecutor doesn't want to air the PD and SA dirty laundry before a Grand Jury

2.) If she later says that the PD and SA screwed this up so bad that I can't get a conviction, she may want to delay such an announcement until after the election.

[Stayclassie]

17. Grand jury starts speedy trial clock

My prediction is she will charge Zimmerman. Her charging document will say Stand Your Ground does not apply. The GOP has a vested interest to protect that law until at least after the election. She's probably working with Zimmerman's attorney regarding speedy trial. If the grand jury charges, speedy trial starts then and a trial would have to be before November.

My bet is on a agreed to trial date next January.

[Junkdrawer]

18. Not only the GOP but the NRA....

I noticed that the gunners were besides themselves with glee when Bill Lee cited Stand Your Ground...until the blowback began. Then there was an almost united denial that the law applied - just a simple case of self defense. The last thing the NRA wants is for the first showcase trial of Stand Your Ground to be one where the victim is an innocent, unarmed 17 yr. old.

[Junkdrawer]

19. BTW: That means no arrest until mid July. ( Cute online calculator here: )

http://www.thelegalassistant.com/tools/florida-speedy-trial-calculator.html

So far, the longer this has drug out, the higher the tensions.

Long, hot summer for Sanford.

[Junkdrawer]

24. I see that the defendant can waive this clock.

The interests of Zimmerman and the GOP establishment seem to be hand in hand from the start of the incident.

So Corey can arrest this week, set him free again on a low bond, and schedule a (weakly prosecuted) trial for after the New Year.

Everybody's happy.

[HooptieWagon]

20. Are you sure?

I thought the speedy trial clock started with the arrest date, not the indictment date.

[Stayclassie]

21. Arrest warrant would be issued

After the grand jury issues their charge then a warrant will be issued. His lawyer said he would turn himself in.

I think a bail--speedy trial deal is being made between the SA and his lawyers.

[HooptieWagon]

22. Right, but it would seem to start with the execution of the arrest warrant, not the issuing of it.

Otherwise, people would go into hiding when a warrant is issued for their arrest, and simply wait out the 175 day period. That doesnt make sense.

[Stayclassie]

23. I'm not disagreeing with you

The grand jury would charge. The warrant would be issued. He said he would turn himself in. He would be booked and arraigned and the speedy trial clock is running. Then the trial would be around October--the absolute worst political time. (or best depending on point of view)

By taking it away from the grand jury, she can control when the warrant is issued thus the arrest time.

Zimmerman can waive speedy trial probably with some favorable bond conditions.

[Junkdrawer]

25. And now the negotiations will be about WHEN and IF he comes back....

A January trial looks optimistic now...

[Stayclassie]

26. Yup

I'm guessing he thought Daddy took care of it. I'm now almost sure the SA was negotiating with his lawyers and he didn't like the fact he would be charged.

He's real dangerous because the right wing has made a martyr out of him. And now he believes it himself. His calling Sean Hannity gives you all the info you need to know. I'm afraid he doesn't think he should have to turn himself in. If they go looking for him, he could have another Stand Your Ground moment.

[robinlynne]

27. but there is no grand jury.