Can Zimmerman Get a Fair Trial?

The Takeaway

It’s been a month and a half since 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed in a gated community in Sanford, Florida. And in that time, America has been exposed to the story of his shooting, and to the face of his shooter, George Zimmerman, in round-the-clock news coverage, online petitions, and public protests.
It’s all part of free speech and a free press, of course. But in the end, could all the public attention affect George Zimmerman’s right to a fair trial?
It’s a question that Wendy Kaminer has been mulling over. Kaminer is a lawyer, social critic, and correspondent at The Atlantic. She’s also the author of eight books, including “Worst Instincts: Cowardice, Conformity, and the ACLU.”

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