Call Me A "Gagnostic"

 As a writer and journalist, I don’t particularly believe in gag orders, so when the second gag order motion was filed by the State on October 18, I had a feeling it, too, would be turned down, just like the first one on April 30. Sure, the first one was denied by a different judge, but the law is pretty clear about what a gag order is, and George Zimmerman’s defense team has not reached the brink of breaching the legal levee to a point of overflowing; when the public is flooded with pre-trial information that may possibly prejudice a jury down the road. Of course, this is assuming that the State passes its first hurdle — the ‘not yet filed’ defense motion for immunity. We won’t go there. Not now, anyway.

The definition of a gag order is quite simple. Law.com describes it as “a judge’s order prohibiting the attorneys and the parties to a pending lawsuit or criminal prosecution from talking to the media or the public about the case.” The description further states that a gag order “has the secondary purpose of preventing the lawyers from trying the case in the press and on television, and thus creating a public mood (which could get ugly) in favor of one party or the other.” A gag order would apply toward law enforcement officials and include all witnesses.

The second part of the description is intriguing because attorneys have been trying cases in the media since the first stone tablet announced something of legal merit thousands of years ago. Before then, it was grunt of mouth that spread the news, and I’m sure that, back then, there were lawyers that hung their slate shingles over cave entrances advertising their services. In those days, they probably wore custom-tailored saber-toothed fur ensembles to court instead of more mundane beaver skins.

Back to the present. The only thing that’s new about the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin case is that the Internet has evolved over the years. We didn’t see it during the O.J. Simpson era of the mid-90s because, unlike today, there wasn’t really a huge need for it. Cell phones were the size of bricks, they were very expensive, and most people were still content with their beepers, fax machines and copiers. I went online sometime in the mid-to-late-90s, but I was in information superhighway diapers until the early 2000s. That’s the way it is in the courtroom now because most laws regarding trial publicity were written prior to the massive explosion of the digital age. If we only go back four years, we witnessed it with the bombastic blast of information regarding the Casey Anthony case, the likes of which we’ve never seen. Thousands of documents were released to the public due to Florida’s liberal Sunshine Law. It wasn’t without problems, though. Case in point: If two different sized tires were found in the woods where Caylee was found, you’d better bet the public retreaded them and overinflated their minds to believe that Casey threw those tires there for a reason. They dissected everything. Why were those tires there? What was Casey hiding? Who helped her? Roy Kronk? God forbid that they might have been there since 2003. Yes, they became Casey’s tires, yet they never swayed the jury one way or the other. There’s a reason for that. They weren’t hers and they were never introduced as evidence at trial. Those woods had been used as a dumping ground for years. That’s the problem with evidence. It’s not always evidence.

Granted, the Zimmerman defense had been publishing all sorts of information on its site, the gzlegalcase, about their client and some of the evidence that’s been released to date, but it was nothing more than what’s been released to the public, anyway. The defense has merely been offering their own interpretations, and some conflicts with the way the State thinks. While the State has been very tight-lipped, that doesn’t mean the defense must play the same game. Most certainly, it doesn’t mean that we have to believe what anyone says, either.

§

During the gag order aspect of the hearing on October 26, Bernie de la Rionda rambled on. At times, I found him to be inconsistent and somewhat disheveled, wordwise. He asserted that the defense Website had been somewhat unethical. Zimmerman & Company called witnesses liars and tried to bypass the media by offering their own version of the case instead of how the media might interpret it. I disagree. We are given the same information in discovery. We can write our own commentary. For instance, Zimmerman’s medical records indicate he may have sustained a broken nose during the fight with Trayvon the night of February 26. O’Mara clearly said it’s a fact and undisputed that his client’s nose was broken. I don’t have to believe O’Mara and neither do you, and that’s the whole point.

Discovery impacts potential jurors a heck of a lot more than anything the defense throws out, in my opinion, and no proof exists either way. His nose was broken, his nose wasn’t broken. You decide. Ostensibly, both sides will offer tons of rhetoric at trial. It’s the name of the game. There is one point where I may agree with de la Rionda. It’s when he commented about the defense site’s quote asking for donations from those who would do the same thing if they were in Zimmerman’s shoes. That’s pretty tasteless and crass, not to mention cold-hearted and grossly opinionated. SEND MONEY IF YOU THINK TRAYVON DESERVED TO DIE. Never mind that O’Mara’s job is to defend his client, not bark for money. If O’Mara has a fault, it’s that he can be overtly insensitive at times.

When O’Mara got up to explain why he had done nothing wrong to warrant the gag, I agreed with him until he asserted that the attorneys for Trayvon’s parents were using the race card. Yes, early on, it turned ugly in a racial kind of way, but O’Mara practically accused Benjamin Crump of inciting a race war. That’s just not true. I attended the National Rally for Justice on Behalf of Trayvon Martin in Sanford on March 22, and all I heard from the speakers, including Rev. Al Sharpton, was nothing but justice, justice, justice. Take it through the court system! That’s all they have been seeking. Not retribution. O’Mara claimed that Crump called Zimmerman a racist murderer and, I’m sorry, but I never heard that. If you can show me where Crump did, in fact, say it, I’ll eat my hat.

He also accused Crump and Natalie Jackson of being surrogates for the State. That’s not true, either, any more than saying that Robert Zimmerman is working for the defense. O’Mara claims that, as a surrogate for the State, Crump must be as bound to Florida Rule 4-3.6 as the immediate attorneys involved in the case. I disagree. Crump does not represent the State. His represents Trayvon’s family. Period. Even if a gag order were in place, it would have no bearing on him. I feel that the intent of this sort of strategy in the courtroom was to throw the judge off course. “They went thataway!” It didn’t work because Judge Nelson didn’t blink. She would not budge, and she often had to remind the defense and prosecution to stay on the road.

§

I was fairly certain before the hearing began that Judge Nelson was going to rule against the gag order motion. While I had some problems with the defense, did anything ever rise to the level that I would consider iffy? No, but I can understand some of the issues at hand. For instance, what separates bloggers from mainstream media? The Huffington Post is a blog, but it’s the media. Daily Kos is as much a part of the media as the New York Times Website. So is NewsBusters. Then there’s Marinade Dave. We won’t go there, but my point is clear. There’s no single distinguishing line that separates media outlets, so why can’t the defense have a blog?

When O’Mara slightly belittled de la Rionda by reminding him this is 2012 and that law books are no longer on shelves, it reminded me of the final presidential debate on foreign policy, when Obama ridiculed Romney about the armed forces no longer fighting with bayonets. While I understood the president’s point, I knew he was wrong. Marines still carry bayonets. In that vein, not all attorneys are Internet savvy. The last time I checked, Office Depot and Staples still sell legal pads and writing instruments with ink, not just digital tablets and capacitative touch screen pens.

But now that we are in the midst of a technology frenzy that continues to skyrocket into the future, at a time when my six month old 3rd generation iPad is already obsolete, I question what good a gag order would do in today’s world. Just how would it impact a jury seven months into the future when we live in an age of lightning LTE speed? The old saying, today’s news is at the bottom of tomorrow’s birdcage, no longer applies because you can’t clean up birdpoop with the Orlando Sentinel dot com. This morning’s news is already old and who can remember what happened yesterday? Other than something that impacts us tremendously, like Superstorm Sandy, who cares? By the time George Zimmerman goes to trial, no one will remember O’Mara’s ramblings from last month, let alone care. Trust me on that one (but I do find it peculiar that nothing new has been posted on the gzlegalcase site [as of this writing] since October 23.)

Ultimately, Judge Nelson denied the motion because alternatives are available to the court to “ensure that an impartial jury can be selected. Those tools include a change of venue, a larger than normal jury venire, individualized voir dire, and stern instructions to the jurors as to their sworn duty to decide the issues based only upon the evidence.” I fully concur, but I think the best news to come out of her order was one simple, yet important, thing. Had a gag order been placed, other than Benjamin Crump, the media would have had no one else to talk to but Robert Zimmerman, Jr, and no one but the media and his own family care about him. And he only matters when there’s nothing better to report. Count your blessings. It’s good to be a gagnostic.

[Prior to the start of the hearing, I wasn’t sure I could get an Internet connection on my iPad. I did, but in the meantime, I asked Rene Stutzman, senior reporter at the Orlando Sentinel, if she had any paper to spare. She gave me her legal pad without hesitation. That was very kind and generous of her. Of course, I gave it back.]

Cross posted on the Daily Kos

Comments

[Xena]

Dave, thanks for sharing this information. Also, I appreciate you attending the hearings to keep us informed. My guess was that Judge Nelson might grant in part, and deny in part, with the grant to gag the gzlegalcase website. Well, I was wrong, but at least she has left the door open in the event the State wants to file for another gag order. At least Judge Nelson considered that things such as communications are not constant.

Thanks again.

[My pleasure, Xena. Thank you! And I hope I can attend all (or most) of the hearings. Then the trial, of course. The thought crossed my mind about a partial sanction, but I don't think the judge can do that. The law is clear about a gag order. It must encompass everything or nothing at all. The fact that she left it open, without prejudice, was the smart thing. If O'Mara opens his yapper too much, the State will file another one. Personally, I don't think he crossed any barriers yet, and the judge feels the same way. If a gag order is issued, I may have to resort to taking macrame lessons to keep me busy.]

[katfish]

"Gagnostic"? Bwaaahhh! You made me smile brother :)

[It's always a pleasure to make you smile, katfish... ALWAYS!!! Sometimes, I don't know where those things come from. They just pop into my head out of nowhere. Thanks, it's great to see you.]

[Sandy Banks]

I am indeed grateful for your clear and detailed reports and while the trial is still months away, it will be here soon enough and I am looking forward to what I hope will be justice - I am clearly biased in my viewpoint.

[Thank you, Sandy. I sure hope I can bring you a lot more clear and detailed reports of this case - all the way through to the end. As for being opinionated, aren't we all? I know I am, and that's what this blog is all about; to voice our opinions.]

[SnoopySleuth]

Dave~~great post and the title is quite fitting.

Your interpretation follows...

SEND MONEY IF YOU THINK TRAYVON DESERVED TO DIE.

This is how I interpret what is written on O'Mara's website...

SEND MONEY IF YOU WOULD DEFEND YOURSELF IN ZIMMERMAN'S SITUATION IF YOUR LIFE WAS THREATENED OR THAT YOU WOULD END UP WITH GREAT BODILY HARM.

For those who have given in the past, for those who have thought about giving, for those who feel Mr. Zimmerman was justified in his actions, for those who feel they would do the same if they were in Mr. Zimmerman's shoes, for those that think Mr. Zimmerman has been treated unfairly by the media, for those who feel Mr. Zimmerman has been falsely accused as a racist, for those who feel this case is an affront to their constitutional rights -- now is the time to show your support.

Source

[I'll stick with my interpretation of it, but I can see it from your point of view. I understand O'Mara must defend his client, but I still think it was an avoidable situation. For those of you who think Zimmerman should have stayed in his vehicle that night, please raise your hand. In my opinion, he was a vigilante not out to find an address, and that's why I adamantly disagree about doing the same thing and how cold the statement was. Also, there's a reason why O'Mara is going with an immunity motion and not something else, and I'm going to explain it in another post. Soon.]

[SnoopySleuth]

Is this just one incident why Mark O'Mara was justified in saying that Ben Crump has been acting as a surrogate speaker for the state? Please note that George Zimmerman was already arrested and charged with second-degree murder at the time this interview took place.

Trayvon Martin Case - Attorney Crump CBS News Still Actting as if HE is the Prosecutor

and another....

Attorney Benjamin Crump speaks at Million Hoodies NYC [Full Speech]

[Ben Crump is free to express opinions because he works on behalf of Trayvon's parents, who are very much a part of this entire equation. His statements don't always coincide with the State. Remember, during the Casey Anthony case, people accused Brad Conway of working for Casey's defense and we all know where that one went. Far from the truth.

I guess another way to put it is to explain it in political terms. I know you don't live in the US, but... FOXNews is not a surrogate for Romney any more than MSNBC is one for Obama. In Crump's case, the family's beliefs somewhat parallel the State's, but that's where it ends. Trayvon's parents want justice for their son and so does the State. I take no issue with that.]

[SnoopySleuth]

Dave~~it seems quite apparent that the interest in the Zimmerman case is waning. There has been no action on O'Mara's site and the latest news item that surfaced in the media was about José Baez writing a letter to Judge Nelson re De La Rionda making false statement about Baez being held in contempt for speaking to the media. I rewatched De La Rionda's argument and I still could not pick up on a mention of Baez. De La Rionda was all over the place and it was hard to follow him.

Judging by the news outlets and most blogs, you would think that a gag order was granted and meant for all of us. The next court appearance is around Dec 10th and George has to make an appearance and if he is a no-show, his bond will be revoked. I believe around that time, they have some other minor issues to take up re discovery. I expect Shellie Zimmerman's perjury charge will be delayed until closer to the self-defense trial which is taking place some time in April.

Dave, you mentioned the tires out at the dump where Caylee's remains were found. There was a lot of interest in the bottle and syringe found too but as we learned lots of garbage was confiscated as it just may have had some significance. It did give us something to discuss. You must give some of us armchair detectives credit for being thorough. lol

This case is someone different as we don't have Cindy Anthony making an appearance around every corner. We did have the Ostermans show their faces. I agree with Newbie in that I do not feel the Ostermans helped George with all the mentoring. It was like giving a kid a loaded gun, showing him how to hit a target, and then telling him to go and have some fun. I am not making excuses for Zimmerman's actions in any way. He broke the laws/rules set out by Neighborhood watch and now must pay the price by facing a judge and/or jury whatever the case may be. Conniefl explained things very well in her previous comment regarding the NHW in that George had no business getting out of his vehicle. Sherry made a good point when she said that Zimmerman should have identified himself.

In closing, I do not think O'Mara will post any info on his website in reference to Trayvon's school records. I hope he has more class that that.

I do hope your blog picks up a bit. My own blog is practically running flat line so I may hold a wake for it soon. Just maybe the Jodi Arias case will bring it back to life. That trial is set to go ahead on Nov 17th but there are already rumors her defense is asking for another delay.

Dave, I found the tone of this post was excellent. It was almost like our old Dave...

[Yup, things are slowing down, but I'll always find something to do; something to write about. I've still got a few story ideas up my sleeve.

There was a lot of so called evidence in the Anthony case; too much, if you ask me, but my point wasn't so much about armchair detectives. It was that, no matter what was pushed on the public; no matter how much it was publicly dissected, it never impacted the jury. Not one bit. That tells me a fair and impartial jury can be seated in this case. Nothing that O'Mara says will stick when it comes down to the nitty gritty.

Old Dave is back, huh? Well, I call it like I see it and this post is how the hearing played in my mind. Gee, thanks, but I had a whole week to think about it...]

[Tommy's Mom]

OKAY this is JMHO! There is not now nor will there ever be ANY evidence that this murder of a child,three weeks after his turning sixteen, IF Zimmerman had done as the dispatcher advised him.
The dispatcher DID NOT ask him to follow Trayvon with a loaded weapon. NO bruises were found on Trayvon's hands to indicate he injured ZImmerman to the point that Zimmerman feared for his life.
ZImmerman got out of his truck and pursued Trayvon with a loaded weapon. He never called out to Trayvon to identify himself as HOA. No matter what he,his family or the defense team say there is simply NO excuse for what he did period.

Dave this was as always a really great article. You do a fantastic job keeping us informed as well as educated and entertained.

[Nope, the dispatcher never asked him to get out of his vehicle and never asked for an address. The police were almost there. Anyone that thinks Zimmerman was justified in doing what he did to set up the shooting is delirious. Sure, they'll argue, he did nothing illegal by getting out and walking around. Free country and all. That's right, it's legal, but so is walking down a dark street in a high crime rate area. Yup, it's legal, but is it smart? Only to a guy like Zimmerman because he's packing a 9mm gun with hollow point bullets. Ain't nobody gonna be up to no good when he's got a gun. And he says he'd do it again. No remorse whatsoever.

Thanks, Tommy's Mom. I do my best sometimes. Let's see where it goes from here...]

[Britt]

Aww, so sweet you were a big boy and gave back that paper!!

See Dave, you comparing Georges brother to Gnatlie Jackson and Crump, is just off base. Does Robert Zimmerman have a law degree? Is he somehow held to a higher standard that members of the bar? You can hem and haw all day long, most of this country is seeing this case for what it is. When this is done, Crump is going to be disbarred. How about doing a piece on if he turned over what he needed to by the deadlline the State gave him. What is it that you automatically believe a child over a grown man anyways? What are you going to do when its exposed Trayvon was a bad kid who loved to fight? What are you going to do when its proven he did hit a bus driver because they demanded fare from him? But you keep on keeping on for whatever reasons/motive you have. I sure hope you are never attacked and have to defend yourself.

[Trust me, Britt, if Zimmerman or his cronies come after me, I have just what I need to defend myself. And I'm no 17-year-old kid, either.]

[Joanna]

Great post Dave. I see you have gained a fan. :)

[Thanks, Joanna. You mean Britt??? I can't tell if Britt is a he or she, nor do I really care. "It" seems to be very bitter, though. I was very fair in this post, but I guess if there's something "it" doesn't like, I'm a marked man. So is everyone else barking up the "wrong" tree. Fortunately, "it" doesn't live around here.]

[ecossie possie]

Thanks for the article Dave....If the Zimmbats come after you.Throw a dollar on the ground they will scrap each other fighting for it .Even better if you dip it in a bit blood there favourate type of money.

[My pleasure, ecossie, and thank you! All of those Zimmbats are just like their ruler. All talk and nothing else without a gun. Too bad, too, because they make legitimate gun owners look bad. Fortunately, most aren't like the "it" person. They are sane and rational. They rule the gun instead of the other way around. I'm sure "it" is helping to keep Z afloat in blood money.]

[SnoopySleuth]

Dave~~do you think we will see Angela Corey participating in the courtroom at the self-defense immunity mini trial or the jury trial? I wonder how she compares to De La Rionda when it comes to arguing motions.

[I don't think we'll be seeing Angela Corey at all or, if so, maybe a few token visits as the trial nears. She is a State Attorney, which makes her the equivalent of Brevard/Seminole Circuit SA Norm Wolfinger and Orange/Osceola SA Lawson Lamar, soon to be replaced by Jeff Ashton. SA styles vary, but remember the Anthony trial? Rarely did we even see Lamar on the news commenting about the case. Never did we see him in the courtroom. Corey did attend early hearings, but she covers the entire 4th Judicial Circuit Court, which includes Duval, Nassau and Clay counties. I guess it may hinge on how busy she is, too, but it's not like driving across town to get here.]

[SnoopySleuth]

Dave~~okay thanks, I understand. I was unsure if she was the equivalent to Lamar. I noticed a gentleman sitting at the prosecution table with De La Rionda at the last hearing. I wonder if he will be the one assisting Bernie in trying this case. I think O'Mara should give Don West his pinks slip. West doesn't look very comfortable in a courtroom setting. He seems to display his emotions particularly his impatience. I don't think you could see him from your vantage point. Let's just say that West would not do well at a poker game.

[Yes, they have the same job. Nemerinys answered your question below. I didn't know who he was, but I should have paid more attention to him. I could see Don West from where I sat. He was turned sideways a lot. Face on, I couldn't see him, but from what I've seen of him in the past and that day, he sure is a cocky SOB. He's also a very close friend of O'Mara's and well respected in the area. I'm sure he's staying put, but he's going to have to adjust to this judge. After all, he and O'Mara were the ones responsible for seating her on this bench, Serves them both right.]

[Tommy's Mom]

Britt

Please post a link that shows the evidence that Trayvon was a "bad kid and loved to fight". Perhaps you could look at the reports of the evidence,NO bruises on Trayvon's knuckles. No grass on the back of Zimmerman's jacket shown in the photos of Zimmerman taken when he first arrived at the station. No raise in BP or breathing when examined on the scene.

Why would you think Crump would be disbarred? Do you have inside information? Are you in the law profession or community,where this is being discussed?

If the comments you make are just your opinion perhaps you could do us all the courtesy of saying so.

The only truth I can find in your comment is Trayvon was a kid/child three weeks past his 16th birthday.

If Zimmerman had done what the dispatcher said "we don't need you to do that", which is heard on the tape of that call Trayvon would still be alive. Instead he choose to persue Trayvon with a 9MM weapon loaded with hollow point bullets. He ended a child's life. A child who will never see another birthday,his graduation,his wedding and maybe the birth of his child.

As to your comments concerning Dave I'll just consider the source. We know that's JYO,as Dave is a writer who does his research,writes well,keeps us informed and entertained with his knowledge and wit. He is a gentle man,who is respected and like by many both on this blog and in his life.

[Thanks, Tommy's Mom. I think Britt is just trying to get under my skin, but I don't know why. If I had to make an assumption about "it", mine is not the color of skin "it" usually has a problem with. My opinion only.

[SnoopySleuth]

Britt~~

With all due respect, if you read this blog regularly, you will note that we are sticklers for typing those JMO's or IMHO's when stating an opinion. I agree with Tommy'sMom in that we can't accept what you state as fact unless you provide a link. In a court of law, opinions do not amount to a hill of beans. It is the evidence provided that carries all the weight.

I do not think Benjamin Crump or Natalie Jackson will be disbarred. To my knowledge, they haven't broken any rules that would cause anyone to submit an information to the Bar Assoc. The same goes for Mark O'Mara and Bernie De La Rionda is holding up very well. Ahhh, he made a little faux pas by saying José Baez was held in contempt of court for speaking to the media. You probably read the letter José sent to Judge Nelson. José told the judge that he would speak to De La Rionda. They probably went to a local pub and shook hands and José bought Bernie a round, presumably water or gingerale. Baez needed his few minutes of fame in the media outlets.

You also said, What are you going to do when its proven he did hit a bus driver because they demanded fare from him?
How did you manage to take a mole hill (rumor) and make it into a mountain? In the original rumor that was circulating through the forest and beyond, I believe the words were, "what do you mean, you took a swing at a bus driver?" not verbatim, okay. Now you have him striking the bus driver. I would like to know if it was a school bus or a city bus, the seat capacity of the bus and the name of the bus driver. Do school buses charge fares in y'all state of Florida? I think you get my drift.

If Zimmerman and his cronies came after me, I would hit them over the head with a piece of Naughty Pine... Tree that is.

JMO

[Vicky]

Britt, I am appalled that anyone would boldly declare that a child's word should not be taken over that of an adult. Based upon your assertion, there should be no adult spending time in prison for child abuse. Most certainly not when the abused child is killed by an adult and the only witness is another child. All I can say is thank god the majority of people living in a civilized society beg to differ with you. I think Dave is correct. You sound very bitter.

As for Crump being disbarred...and then you woke up. Giving a voice for a homicide victim and his family is not against the law. It's called free speech. Trayvon lost his life because a grown man lacked self control and exercised extremely poor judgement. Also, and Dave please correct me if I am wrong, the tapes of De De's interview have been turned over to authorities. The claim of the defense is that they had not received copies of those tapes. However, O'Mara indicated he had finally received the recordings. What they are now looking for is information gathered by the federal government. I realize there is a lot of information to sort through, but if you are going to debate the issues of this case, you should come prepared to defend your position.

I have yet to see the alleged bus driver listed as a potential witness for the defense. Why is that? Could it be that he doesn't exist? How did Trayvon respond to the tweet about the bus driver? What happens if the bus driver is found and denies being confronted by Trayvon? Are we then to take the word of a child over the bus driver's? Will you change your mind about the events that occurred that night if it turns out that Trayvon had no history of violence? Does it bother you at all that GZ did? Has it occurred to you that any mention of Trayvon's background (if anything noteworthy exists) is used as part of GZ's defense will open the door for the prosecution to bring up George's history of violence, including the assault on LE?

I want to see justice served in this case. If the result is a not guilty verdict, I will accept and respect the jury's decision. Since they will have heard evidence. Not rumors. Will you respect the jury's decision if they come back with a guilty verdict?

[Nothing to correct, Vicky. Thanks for your great points.]

[nemerinys]

Snoopy, the man you saw sitting beside BDLR is John Guy, the other prosecutor Corey assigned to this case. This
Tampa Bay Times article discusses the two men (and O'Mara).

[I think it's interesting to note that John Guy signed Shellie Zimmerman's arrest warrant. Thanks for IDing the "guy".]

[SnoopySleuth]

nemerinys~~thank you for the info. It is appreciated. The article at your link was quite interesting. I was not familar with John Guy and I see that he has an impressive background. He is said to be cool and meticulous as well as having a good demeanor. I find De La Rionda to be feisty so they should make a good team.

[nemerinys]

Snoopy,

And we've all become familiar with that which the article noted:

He said De La Rionda, the other prosecutor, is "a lot more combative and he gets very emotional. Bernie sometimes gets carried away. Sometimes he goes over the top, but he's a competent trial lawyer."

I think the prosecution would best be served if BDLR gave the opening statement and focused on the cross. John Guy would be better at balancing O'Mara's demeanor in the main presentation.