Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't Zimmerman's father a RETIRED JUDGE?

[Rosco T.]

why has no one connected the dots on that as to why Zimmerman was (apparently) such buddy buddy with the police and why they are desperately trying to cover tracks?

[Ecumenist]

1. Yes, he is. A retired magistrate from Virginia and I wish I could tell you why certain

types are stubbornly ignoring what is as obvious as the nose on your face.

[Art_from_Ark]

2. He was a magistrate, whose duties are defined as follows:

Magistrate System
About
In many instances, a citizen's first contact with Virginia’s Judicial System comes through the office of the Magistrate. A principal function of the magistrate is to provide an independent, unbiased review of complaints of criminal conduct brought to the office by law enforcement or the general public. Magistrate duties include issuing various types of processes such as arrest warrants, summonses, bonds, search warrants, subpoenas, and certain civil warrants. Magistrates also conduct bail hearings in instances in which an individual is arrested on a warrant charging him or her with a criminal offense. Magistrates provide services on an around-the-clock basis, conducting hearings in person or through the use of videoconferencing systems.

The magistrate system for the Commonwealth is divided into eight regions, and each magistrate is authorized to exercise his or her powers throughout the magisterial region for which he or she is appointed. Each region is comprised of between three and five judicial districts. There are magistrate offices located throughout Virginia, including at least one in each of Virginia’s 32 judicial districts.

[Ecumenist]

7. Whatever the technicalities, he still has contacts, trust me. I'm absolutely certain that

this had alot to do with getting his cases dropped in the past.

[Art_from_Ark]

8. I don't doubt that

After reading about the duties of a magistrate, it seems like they would know a lot of people in high places.

[HiPointDem]

23. In Virginia, where he worked. But in Florida, where he retired? Not so obvious to me.

[MADem]

12. They're "Junior Judges" basically. In MA you do not call them "Your Honor" which makes address

problematic in a courtroom setting--you have to stick to the sir/ma'am routine. They do know their way around the judicial system, and they also come into close contact with cops on a regular basis.

[lonestarnot]

3. A magistrate is not a judge, just a wannabe.

[Rosco T.]

5. Like his son?

???

[lonestarnot]

6. Apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

[Rosco T.]

9. .. and don't get grass/mud on their clothes either

[Ruby the Liberal]

4. A Virginia Magistrate is a non-elected position that doesn't require a law degree.

Up until a few years ago, it didn't even require a bachelors degree.

It is a county clerk role administering fines and traffic tickets.

[Art_from_Ark]

10. It's more than just administering fines and traffic tickets

Read my post #2-- it's taken from an official Virginia courts web site

http://www.courts.state.va.us/courtadmin/aoc/djs/programs/mag/about.html

[Ruby the Liberal]

20. Thanks for that - I have another thread

where it needs to be added.

[librechik]

21. seems like Magistrates would have the most contact w police officers

of all the judiciary in VA. I'm sure he was known, maybe even had friends, esp since his wife was also working in the system.

[cherokeeprogressive]

11. About a million people have connected those dots. Most of them seem to be DU members.

There are eleventy-hundred posts about it, or so it seems.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

13. A mini judge in another state?

Ehh not so much

[LanternWaste]

15. A Dallas, TX cop is as safe from receiving a speeding ticket in New York as he is in Dallas

A Dallas, TX cop is as safe from receiving a speeding ticket in New York as he is in Dallas. Show the badge, give the secret handshake, a voíla-- citation never happened.

I see no relevant nor credible reason to suggest why this same process cannot and is not applied to different levels of law enforcement...

[ProgressiveProfessor]

16. Magistrates are not even called "Your Honor" in VA as I recall

I don't see the judge angle being part of this. However, taking a look at what he has been doing since he retired to FL would be a good thing. For example, has he been active in local politics, including the elected State Attorney race? I have seen posted here that he was a Repuke.

[LaydeeBug]

17. Police Officers from Dallas aren't even called "Your Honor" either, but they still ain't gettin' a

ticket anywhere, and you know it.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

19. Tell that to the California Highway Patrol

The "professional courtesy" is a great deal more spotty than many realize when its not local.

[LaydeeBug]

22. There isn't any need to...the blue wall extends everywhere. nt

[HiPointDem]

24. Zimmerman Sr apparently retired years ago, in Virgina. I don't see how that + a secret handshake

means he knows the local police department in some little town in Florida.

Especially since a magistrate is just a B.A. or less job.

I'm just not seeing how that kind of job history has pull all over the USA.

[onenote]

14. You are wrong.

He is a retired magistrate from Virginia (not Florida). Magistrates are not considered judges; they are judicial officers with limited duties and authority. At the time Zimmerman's father served, they didn't have to be college graduates and even today they only need to have a bachelor's degree, not a law degree. They are paid around 1/3 of what judges are paid (between $35K and $54 K for a magistrate compared to $160K to $180K for a judge).

Its been speculated that being a magistrate puts Zimmerman's father in contact with people in "high places." I can tell you from first hand experience that generally isn't the case. When someone from the state's attorneys office has to appear before a magistrate, its usually someone from the lower echelon of the office. The top dogs don't spend time dealing with magistrates for the most part. Sure, they may also have repeat appearances by police officers, but again, the top brass isn't popping down for appearances before magistrates.

As for how whatever contacts Zimmerman's father had with the police and prosecutors in Manassas Virginia (not exactly a big city) translated into any influence in Sanford Virginia -- well I've yet to see how those dots get connected.

[LaydeeBug]

18. You can tell us your experience is not that, but not that GZ's experience wasn't that...

since three arrests were "closed", one of them being assaulting a police officer. Good luck disappearing those charges if you are not well connected.