Spring 2012 | UF Law Magazine | University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law

News From The Law School

UF Law faculty go-to sources in Travyon Martin shooting case

By Matt Walker

All eyes again turned to Florida as the Trayvon Martin shooting case generated national headlines. The case was ripe for legal discourse
and the media came calling — again and again — on UF Law faculty to solicit their expert opinions as the drama unfolded before the nation.

UF Law faculty stepped up to the plate and addressed a vast number of
issues ranging from Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, to race, to ethics, to Twitter. UF Law issued a media tip sheet just as the story was breaking and UF Law faculty got in early on the conversation. Now, they have been positioned as some of the go-to experts on the case, with the media relying on faculty — as experts in not only criminal law, but in Florida law — to elucidate the sometimes difficult and technical details.

Faculty members have been quoted by The New York Times, The Los Angeles
Times, The Associated Press, Reuters, NPR, Time.com, and numerous local
and regional publications. Professor Kenneth Nunn offered commentary on
Eliot Spitzer’s “Viewpoint” on Current TV and Professor Michael Seigel chatted with Geraldo. Other faculty commenting on the case include Legal Skills Professor George Dekle, Legal Skills Professor Monique Haughton-Worrell, Professor Michelle Jacobs, Professor Lyrissa Lidsky, Professor Amy Mashburn and Professor Kathryn Russell-Brown.

One day after special prosecutor and UF Law graduate Angela Corey (JD 79) filed a second-degree murder charge against shooter George Zimmerman, UF
Law faculty had been quoted in more than 100 media outlets about the Martin case. The list continues to grow.

Meanwhile, the UF Law Center for the Study of Race and Race Relations sponsored a two-and-a-half hour discussion open to the public, in which professors addressed questions from law students and the Gainesville community about legal issues surrounding the case as it was
unfolding.

Part of the law school’s mission is serving the public and fostering justice. UF Law professors educate the public about how the law is applied, and they are in even more demand in that role than they were during the Casey Anthony trial, which concluded last summer. It can make
for a hectic schedule as professors shuffle from teaching to taking a five-minute phone interview, to fielding another media request before the next class. The fact that the media keep coming back to our faculty
is a testament to their expertise, insight and articulation of the legal matters imperative to this case and to the rule of law.

Matt Walker is media relations manager in the Levin College of Law Office
of Communications

Below is a list of stories that UF Law Professors have been quoted in thus far:

Trayvon Martin case media hits, plus syndicated stories as of 4/16/2012

Bob Dekle:

“‘Stand Your Ground’ Under Microscope” (March 21, 2012, WCJB TV-20), http://www.wcjb.com/local-news/2012/03/stand-your-ground-under-microscope

“As Millions Fight for Trayvon Martin, Kill at Will Laws Flourish” (March 29, 2012, Color Lines), http://colorlines.com/archives/2012/03/kill_at_will_laws.html

“Media take on police-like role in Martin case” (April 3, 2012, Associated Press), http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i45K6g4CDB4ka-i53E8MJpxfvfLA?docId=0be05db9515e41a3bbb4c2dd2895f181

http://news.yahoo.com/media-police-role-martin-case-215401404.html

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/04/02/national/a145337D00.DTL

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-04/D9TTFDV80.htm

http://newsok.com/media-take-on-police-like-role-in-martin-case/article/feed/366690

http://www.abcnews4.com/story/17315282/media-takes-on-police-like-role-in-martin-case

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/04/02/3531200/media-takes-on-police-like-role.html#storylink=rss

http://www.twincities.com/ci_20309371/media-takes-police-like-role-martin-case

http://articles.boston.com/2012-04-02/ae/31276126_1_police-video-police-dispatcher-trayvon-martin-slaying

http://www.statesman.com/news/nation/media-take-on-police-like-role-in-martin-2279231.html

http://www.chron.com/news/article/Media-take-on-police-like-role-in-Martin-case-3453634.php

http://tampa.cbslocal.com/2012/04/02/media-take-on-police-like-investigative-role-in-martin-case/

http://www.katv.com/story/17315282/media-takes-on-police-like-role-in-martin-case

http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/news/moving_america_news/38647

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/avantgo/2017894905.html

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/media-takes-police-role-martin-case-16057868

http://parkscrump.com/trayvon-martin-case-media-take-on-police-like-role/

http://www.wtoc.com/story/17315282/media-takes-on-police-like-role-in-martin-case?clienttype=printable

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120403/NATION/204030342

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-04/D9TTFDV80.htm

http://www.pressherald.com/news/nationworld/media-take-on-police-like-role-in-teens-death_2012-04-03.html

http://www.cnbc.com/id/46938144/Media_take_on_police_like_role_in_Martin_case

“The search for probable cause in Trayvon Martin case” (April 5, 2012, Orlando Sentinel),

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-04-05/news/os-trayvon-martin-probable-cause-20120404_1_special-prosecutor-angela-corey-evidence-standards-arrest

“Trayvon Martin’s killing is now a murder case” (April 12, 2012, USA Today), http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-04-12/george-zimmerman-charges-trayvon-martin-shooting/54191768/1

“Florida state attorney known to ‘vigorously’ prosecute cases” (April 12, 2012, USA Today), http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-04-11/corey-florida-prosecutor-trayvon-martin/54189310/1

“George Zimmerman charged in Trayvon Martin case” (April 12, 2012, USA Today) http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-04-11/trayvon-martin-review/54167820/1?csp=hf

“Zimmerman’s lawyers ask judge to recuse herself, records sealed” (April 16, 2012, The Daily Beast), http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/04/16/zimmerman-s-lawyers-ask-judge-to-recuse-herself-records-sealed.html

Monique Haughton-Worrell:

“Panelists discuss role of race in Trayvon Martin shooting” (March 29, 2012, The Alligator), http://www.alligator.org/news/campus/article_42ee9790-7959-11e1-ac78-0019bb2963f4.html

“Zimmerman charged with murder” (April 12, 2012, On Point with Tom Ashbrook, NPR), http://onpoint.wbur.org/2012/04/12/charges-for-george-zimmerman

Michelle Jacobs:

“Students react to the death of Trayvon Martin” (March 22, 2012, The Alligator), http://www.alligator.org/news/campus/article_fa94ad9c-73d9-11e1-a8bb-0019bb2963f4.html

“Inside the Trayvon Martin Tragedy” (March 28, 2012, Legal Talk Network), http://legaltalknetwork.com/podcasts/lawyer-2-lawyer/2012/03/inside-the-trayvon-martin-tragedy/

http://tunein.com/radio/Lawyer-2-Lawyer-p321267/

http://www.podfeed.net/episode/Inside+the+Trayvon+Martin+Tragedy/3361603

“No grand jury for Trayvon Martin case” (April 10, 2012, WUFT), http://www.wuft.org/news/2012/04/10/no-grand-jury-for-trayvon-martin-case/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=no-grand-jury-for-trayvon-martin-case

“Trayvon Martin’s killing is now a murder case” (April 12, 2012, USA Today), http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-04-12/george-zimmerman-charges-trayvon-martin-shooting/54191768/1

http://tucsoncitizen.com/usa-today-news/2012/04/11/trayvon-martins-killing-is-now-a-murder-case/

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20120412/GPG0101/304120035/Zimmerman-charged-Trayvon-Martin-death

“George Zimmerman charged in Trayvon Martin case” (April 12, 2012, USA Today) http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-04-11/trayvon-martin-review/54167820/1?csp=hf

“Trayvon Martin case: George Zimmerman charged with second-degree murder” (April 11, 2012 Time.com), http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/04/11/trayvon-martin-case-george-zimmerman-charged-with-second-degree-murder/?xid=gonewsedit

Lyrissa Lidsky:

“What Trayvon Martin’s tweets say about him” (April 8, 2012, The Miami Herald),

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/08/2738118/what-trayvon-martins-social-media.html

“Hannity could be required to testify about his conversation with George Zimmerman” (April 11, 2012, Think Progress.org), http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/04/11/462513/experts-hannity-testify-conversation-with-george-zimmerman/?mobile=nc

Amy Mashburn:

“Zimmerman ex-lawyers may have violated ethics rules: law profs” (April 11, 2012, Reuters), http://newsandinsight.thomsonreuters.com/Legal/News/ViewNews.aspx?id=44570&terms=%40ReutersTopicCodes+CONTAINS+‘ANV

Kenneth Nunn:

“Trayvon Martin: Sanford officials, Rep. Corrine Brown, meet with Justice officials in Washington” (March 20, 2012, Orlando Sentinel), http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-03-20/news/os-trayvon-martin-doj-investigation-20120320_1_shooting-sanford-church-sanford-officials

http://www.wsbt.com/news/os-trayvon-martin-doj-investigation-20120320,0,4710790,full.story

http://www.jdnews.com/news/justice-101937-shooting-department.html

http://www.nejamelaw.com/rick-jancha-in-the-news/trayvon-martin-sanford-officials-meet-with-justice-officials.html

http://www.samachar.com/trayvon-martin-sanford-officials-rep-corrine-brown-meet-with-justice-officials-in-washington-mdvcM6dejfb.html

“Racism Is the Problem Here” (March 21, 2012, The New York Times),

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/03/21/do-stand-your-ground-laws-encourage-vigilantes/racism-is-the-problem-not-the-stand-your-ground-laws

“Trayvon Martin case: Looking ahead to grand jury hearing” (March 29, 2012, Los Angeles Times), http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-trayvon-martin-20120329,0,4927997.story

http://article.wn.com/view/2012/03/29/Trayvon_Martin_case_Looking_ahead_to_grand_jury_hearing_y/

http://timesofnews.co/2012/03/29/trayvon-martin-case-looking-ahead-to-grand-jury-hearing

“What Trayvon Martin’s tweets say about him” (April 8, 2012, The Miami Herald),

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/08/2738118/what-trayvon-martins-social-media.html

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/04/09/2473560/what-trayvon-martins-tweets-say.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2127114/Trayvon-Martin-Twitter-Teen-obsessed-girls-jokes-ghetto-culture.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

http://newspano.com/news/inside-trayvons-tweets-teen-was-obsessed-with-girls-and-made-jokes-about-ghetto-culture

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/04/09/v-print/144554/what-trayvon-martins-tweets-say.html

“Trayvon Martin case: Special prosecutor will skip the grand jury” (April 9, 2012, The Los Angeles Times), http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-trayvon-martin-case-answers-coming-soon-20120409,0,684632.story

“Trayvon Martin case: Why did Florida prosecutor skip grand jury?” (April 9, 2012, The Los Angeles Times), http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-trayvon-martin-case-what-does-prosecutors-decision-mean-20120409,0,3216534.story

“No Grand Jury in Trayvon Case” (April 9, 2012, Annenberg TV News), http://www.atvn.org/news/2012/04/special-prosecuter-will-not-take-trayvon-case-grand-jury

“Justice for Trayvon? Kenneth Nunn, Jenee Desomnd-Harris on Zimmerman’s second-degree murder charge” (April 11, 2012, Viowpoint with Eliot Spitzer), http://current.com/shows/viewpoint/93738266_justice-for-trayvon-kenneth-nunn-jen-e-desmond-harris-on-zimmermans-second-degree-murder-charge.htm#comments

“George Zimmerman in custody, charged with second-degree murder in Trayvon Martin case” (April 11, 2012, Huffington Post), http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/11/george-zimmerman-trayvon-martin-charged-second-degree-murder_n_1417198.html

“George Zimmerman appears briefly in court on Trayvon Martin murder charge” (April 12, 2012, The Guardian), http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/12/george-zimmerman-court-trayvon-martin?newsfeed=true

“Trayvon Martin case: Trial is challenge for prosecution, defense” (April 12, 2012, The Los Angeles Times), http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-trayvon-martin-legal-analysis-20120412,0,3927351.story

“George Zimmerman’s notoriety raises concerns for fair trial” (April 13, 2012, Huffington Post), http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/13/george-zimmerman-trial-trayvon-martin_n_1423413.html

“George Zimmerman to plead not guilty to murder charge as lawyer seeks bail” (April 12, 2012, The Guardian), http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/12/george-zimmerman-trayvon-martin-court-hearing?newsfeed=true

Katheryn Russell-Brown:

“Outrage unites people of all colors, but divide still exists” (March 24, 2012, Orlando Sentinel), http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-03-24/news/os-trayvon-martin-racial-view-20120325_1_blacks-jennifer-kesse-outrage

http://www.dailypress.com/topic/os-trayvon-martin-racial-view-20120325,0,4424398.story

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/trayvon-martin/os-trayvon-martin-racial-view-20120325,0,148123,full.story

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/newsworldnation/954872-227/outrage-unites-people-of-all-colors-divide.html

“Panelists discuss role of race in Trayvon Martin shooting” (March 29, 2012, The Alligator), http://www.alligator.org/news/campus/article_42ee9790-7959-11e1-ac78-0019bb2963f4.html

Michael Seigel:

“Stand your ground” laws and the Trayvon Martin case” (March 20, 2012, 89.3 KPCC, NPR affiliate in Los Angeles), http://www.scpr.org/programs/airtalk/2012/03/20/25683/trayvon-martin

“UF Professor Breaks Down ‘Stand Your Ground’ Law” (March 21, 2012, GTN News),

http://www.mygtn.tv/story/17214033/uf-professor-breaks-down-stand-your-ground-law

“‘Stand Your Ground Law’ at center of Fla. Shooting” (March 22, 2006, Associated Press), http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jGvt4B1k3oYa22McRcMZW59i8b0w?docId=c220cf9300364978aaf2b5e9ed3ca1b4

http://articles.boston.com/2012-03-22/news/31226014_1_deadly-force-shooting-death-police-officers

http://www.timesnews.net/article/9044107/39stand-your-ground-law39-at-center-of-fla-shooting

http://m2.tbo.com/content/2012/mar/22/220754/stand-your-ground-law-at-center-of-sanford-teen-sh/news-breaking/

http://www.delawareonline.com/viewart/20120322/NEWS/120322033/Stand-Your-Ground-Law-center-Fla-shooting?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CHome

http://online.worldmag.com/2012/03/22/stand-your-ground-law-at-center-of-fla-shooting/

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46818374

http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/stand-your-ground-law-1394199.html

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/mar/22/stand-your-ground-law-at-center-florida-shooting/?page=all

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2017811122_apusneighborhoodwatchstandyourground.html?syndication=rss