Posted on June 13, 2013

Trayvon Martin Justice Group Member Tries to Get onto George Zimmerman Jury

Lisa Lucas et al., NY Daily News, June 12, 2013

A member of a pro-Travyon Martin group was unmasked Wednesday as he tried to get on the Florida jury in George Zimmerman’s trial for shooting the unarmed teen.

A white male potential juror identified on his Facebook page as Jerry Counelis gave long, rambling answers about his impartiality when asked basic questions by attorneys.

Counelis, known as panelist E-7, said he was an unemployed painter and musician and had no problem being sequestered if chosen to serve on the jury.

After both prosecution and defense attorneys finished questioning the potential juror, they requested a sidebar with the judge.
Circuit Judge Debra Nelson said she had a question for Juror E-7She then asked if Counelis posted something to the Coffee Party Progressives Facebook page on March 21.Nelson circled something on a piece of paper and handed it to him, and told him to look at it and tell the court if he posted it.Counelis said ‘yes,’ and was dismissed from the room. It’s not clear if he’s been taken off the list of potential jurors.

According to its Facebook page, the Coffee Party Progressives is a group “dedicated to seeking justice for Trayvon Martin.”

On March 21, Counelis wrote on its page that the justice system “needs an enema.”

“In Sanford … & I CAN tell you THIS. ‘Justice’ IS Coming!” he wrote, adding that “with the noise WE made … it couldn’t be covered up.”

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A pair of African-Americans got extra scrutiny Wednesday. But Zimmerman lawyer Mark O’Mara categorically denied the dense teem was trying to keep blacks off the panel.

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