George Zimmerman’s attorney, Mark O’Mara, filed papers Monday to request a new judge in the Trayvon Martin case.
O'Mara believes the husband of Circuit Judge Jessica Reckseidler may present a conflict of interest. He works in the office of Mark NeJame.
NeJame has ties to Zimmerman's case. He will also be providing legal analysis for CNN. Leaving nothing to chance, O'Mara moved forward with the motion to have Reckseidler removed.
"The concern is that another subdivision talks about a relation to an interested party," O'Mara told reporters Monday afternoon.
"Unfortunately with a case that is going to get this type of scrutiny, and over what I imagine will be an extended period of time, that existing in the front be it with her and her husband who worked with Mr. NeJame. Deal with it now, there is certainly a potential for a conflict, get it taken care get a new judge in place for the entirety of the trial," O'Mara said.
It was Judge Reckseidler who called a special session to inform the attorneys of a possible conflict of interest in the case.
O'Mara feels getting a new judge should not be a problem.
"I believe it's going to be granted and I think it should be," O’Mara said.
Zimmerman is facing second-degree murder charges. He turned himself in last week after special Prosecutor Angela Corey made the announcement of his arrest in Jacksonville.
The neighborhood watchman and self-professed shooter of Trayvon Martin has a bond hearing set for Friday, but switching judges could delay that hearing.
"He is frustrated, he is frustrated with being in there now, but on the other hand I have had good conversations with him, he understands what I'm doing I think he trusts what I'm doing," said O'Mara.
Motion to unseal documents
Several national news media organizations are among those asking a judge to unseal court documents in George Zimmerman murder case.
In a motion filed Monday, the press asked Seminole Circuit Judge Mark Herr to unseal the documents, which includes evidence the state will present to Zimmerman's attorney.
Herr and Zimmerman's attorneys agreed to seal the documents, without signing an official order.
Media attorneys argued most of the evidence in the case has already been reported.
Gov. Rick Scott defends Angela Corey
Gov. Rick Scott says he rejects suggestions that charges came in the killing of Trayvon Martin simply because of public pressure.
Taking questions from reporters at an economic forum in West Palm Beach, Scott said he doesn't believe special prosecutor Angela Corey is influenced by anything but the facts of the case. He said his focus is the same as hers, justice for Martin's family and due process for George Zimmerman, who is charged with second-degree murder in the teen's shooting death.
Zimmerman's arrest came nearly six weeks after Martin was shot in a gated community in Sanford, a delay that inspired protests nationwide.
Affidavit of Probable Cause
A newly-released affidavit accuses Zimmerman of "profiling" Trayvon Martin, confronting Martin first and shooting him in the chest.
The affidavit was released by the State Attorney's office and explains why Angela Corey and her team believe there is probable cause to charge Zimmerman with second-degree murder.
The affidavit retraces the events of Sunday, February 26, when George Zimmerman spotted Trayvon Martin walking through the Retreat at Twin Lakes community in Sanford. The document utilizes information from the 911 tapes, and a phone call Trayvon Martin made to a friend.
The document says Martin was on his way back to the townhouse he was living at when he was "profiled by George Zimmerman." It does not specifically state that Zimmerman racially-profiled Martin. The document says Zimmerman "assumed Martin was a criminal."
"Zimmerman felt Martin did not belong in the gated community and called the police. Zimmerman spoke to the dispatcher and asked for an officer to respond because Zimmerman perceived that Martin was acting suspicious. The police dispatcher informed Zimmerman that an officer was on the way and to wait for the officer."
The document also said that the police dispatcher told Zimmerman not to pursue Martin, who by this point was trying to run home because Zimmerman was following him. It says Martin "disregarded the police dispatcher and continued to follow Martin who was trying to return to his home."
The document also says Zimmerman confronted Martin, which contradicts the account of events given by Zimmerman's supporters and his former lawyers, who say Martin confronted Zimmerman at Zimmerman's car.
At the end of the affidavit, it says that the facts "are not a complete recitation of all the pertinent facts and evidence in this case but only are presented for a determination of Probable Cause for Second Degree Murder."