Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. Sets New George Zimmerman Bond at $1 Million … Makes Rather Personal Opinions During Ruling

Once again George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch individual who has been charged with second degree murder of Trayvon Martin has been granted bond again.

Circuit Court Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. set bond today for George Zimmerman for $1 million. Wow, $1 million is rather steep as compared to the initial bond that was provided. The judge deemed Zimmerman a flight risk. According to Zimmerman’s attorney, they have enough in Zimmerman’s legal defense fund to put up 10% of the bond for George Zimmerman’s release.

Zimmerman’s Bond … One Million Dollars!!!

A judge Thursday ordered George Zimmerman, the Neighborhood Watch volunteer who shot and killed Trayvon Martin, released on $1 million bail but called the defendant a manipulator and said it appeared he had been preparing to flee the country.

It was not clear how long it would take the 28-year-old Zimmerman to arrange his release. It could be soon.

He has enough money. In a blog post Thursday evening, defense attorney Mark O’Mara wrote that he would be working to free Zimmerman over the next several hours and would dip deeply into a legal defense fund that has a balance of $211,000, more than enough to cover the 10-percent non-refundable portion charged by most bonding companies.

However, to hear this judge talk I really have to wonder just how fair a trial that Zimmerman is going to receive. Does this judge have a built in prejudice against Zimmerman because of the misrepresentation that he an his wife did with regards to their funds in the first bond hearing?

The original bond was set at $150,000, now it is at $1,000,000. That is not the most disturbing thing that Judge Lester did, however. Will Zimmerman be allowed to leave Seminole County? Judge Lester comments comparing Zimmerman not being a threat to the community vs. anti-Zimmerman protesters having been “to this point” non-violent were absurd. Last time I checked Zimmerman did not make death threats and put a bounty on the Martin family. The same can not be said of the New Black Panther party and their $10,000 bounty they put on Zimmerman’s head. Of course the authorities did nothing about that.

Last time, the judge was more liberal, allowing him to live out of state at a secret location so long as he kept in touch with Seminole County probation officers who knew his whereabouts, monitored his movements via satellite and with phone checks every three days.

Zimmerman is not a threat to the community, the judge wrote, nor are pro-Trayvon protesters a threat to him.

“All demonstrations to this point have been non-violent and peaceful,” the judge wrote.

So what is to be made of Judge Lester’s comments regarding George Zimmerman? For a judge who is only commenting and making a decision on bond with an entire trial to go, this is rather questionable behavior be the judge. The judge made some rather personal opinions in the ruling that really has no place in law. We shall see what comes of this.

Order Setting Bail can be read HERE.