Afternoon Briefs: George Zimmerman sues Dems over tweets; Concordia Law finds new parent school
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George Zimmerman sues Buttigieg and Warren over tweets
The neighborhood watch volunteer acquitted in the murder of unarmed teen Trayvon Martin has filed a defamation suit against Democratic presidential candidates Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg. The Feb. 18 lawsuit filed for George Zimmerman targets two tweets. One by Buttigieg read: “Trayvon Martin would have been 25 today. How many 25th birthdays have been stolen from us by white supremacy, gun violence, prejudice, and fear?” The other by Warren said Martin “should still be with us today. We need to end gun violence and racism. And we need to build a world where all of our children—especially young black boys—can grow up safe and free.” Zimmerman is represented by controversial lawyer Larry Klayman, founder of a group that frequently sued Bill and Hillary Clinton. Klayman also represents Zimmerman in a suit claiming that a witness in the murder trial misrepresented herself as Martin’s girlfriend. The lawsuit alleges malicious prosecution by prosecutors and a civil conspiracy that includes Martin’s family. (The Lakeland Ledger, Courthouse News Service, Zimmerman’s lawsuit)
Concordia Law finds new parent school
Concordia University School of Law has a new parent institution and will remain open in Boise, Idaho, according to a Thursday news release. The school was previously owned by the Concordia University campus in Portland, Oregon, which announced last week that it was closing. Ownership of the law school will be transferred to the Concordia University campus in St. Paul, Minnesota. The agreement is subject to ABA acquiescence. There are nine Concordia University campuses, which are operated by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. (Concordia University press release)
Jurors deadlock in trial of judge accused of allowing computer access
Jurors deadlocked this week in the trial of a Georgia judge accused of allowing outsiders to access her computer to investigate whether it had been hacked by the district attorney. The judge, Kathryn Schrader of Gwinnett County, said she acted because her concerns weren’t being addressed. Prosecutors said they were evaluating whether to retry the case. (The Gwinnett Daily Post, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, WSBTV)
Judges group calls off discussion of Roger Stone intervention
A group of federal judges in the independent Federal Judges Association has indefinitely postponed a meeting called to discuss the U.S. Department of Justice’s intervention in the criminal case against Roger Stone, a former adviser to President Donald Trump. No reason was given for the delay. Stone was sentenced Thursday to 40 months in prison, a lower term than originally sought by the four prosecutors, whose sentencing recommendation was overruled by Attorney General William Barr. (Law360)
