GUILTY FL - 17 killed in Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, Parkland, 14 Feb 2018 *shooter Guilty, School officer NG* #5

[SeesSeas]

Florida judge should be reprimanded for conduct during Parkland school shooting trial, report says

The commission said Judge Elizabeth Scherer showed bias toward the prosecution in Nikolas Cruz’s case and allowed emotions to overcome her judgment.

www.tampabay.com

June 5, 2023
FORT LAUDERDALE — The Florida judge who oversaw the penalty trial of Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz should be publicly reprimanded for showing bias toward the prosecution, failing to curtail “vitriolic statements” directed at Cruz’s attorneys by the victims’ families and sometimes allowing “her emotions to overcome her judgement,” a state commission concluded Monday.

The Judicial Qualifications Commission found that Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer violated several rules governing judicial conduct during last year’s trial in her actions toward Cruz’s public defenders.
[...]
The 15-member commission found that Scherer “unduly chastised” lead public defender Melisa McNeill and her team, wrongly accused one Cruz attorney of threatening her child, and improperly embraced members of the prosecution in the courtroom after the trial’s conclusion.
[...]

Florida Supreme Court

supremecourt.flcourts.gov

Elizabeth A. Scherer

SC2023-0817

Broward

06-05-2023

https://acis.flcourts.gov/portal/court/68f021c4-6a44-4735-9a76-5360b2e8af13/case/c2299e12-b81b-4965-867e-8d09fc45e84c

Case View - Inquiry Concerning a Judge No. 2022-785 re: Hon. Elizabeth A. Scherer​

 

[Gardenista]

Florida judge should be reprimanded for conduct during Parkland school shooting trial, report says

The commission said Judge Elizabeth Scherer showed bias toward the prosecution in Nikolas Cruz’s case and allowed emotions to overcome her judgment.

www.tampabay.com

June 5, 2023
FORT LAUDERDALE — The Florida judge who oversaw the penalty trial of Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz should be publicly reprimanded for showing bias toward the prosecution, failing to curtail “vitriolic statements” directed at Cruz’s attorneys by the victims’ families and sometimes allowing “her emotions to overcome her judgement,” a state commission concluded Monday.

The Judicial Qualifications Commission found that Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer violated several rules governing judicial conduct during last year’s trial in her actions toward Cruz’s public defenders.
[...]
The 15-member commission found that Scherer “unduly chastised” lead public defender Melisa McNeill and her team, wrongly accused one Cruz attorney of threatening her child, and improperly embraced members of the prosecution in the courtroom after the trial’s conclusion.
[...]

Florida Supreme Court

supremecourt.flcourts.gov

Elizabeth A. Scherer

SC2023-0817

Broward

06-05-2023

https://acis.flcourts.gov/portal/court/68f021c4-6a44-4735-9a76-5360b2e8af13/case/c2299e12-b81b-4965-867e-8d09fc45e84c

Case View - Inquiry Concerning a Judge No. 2022-785 re: Hon. Elizabeth A. Scherer​

That pdf was very satisfying reading. Although her resignation may not have been a condition of the agreement, there is no doubt in my mind it was the reason for her resignation.

 

[Weki]

To me it is just sad and astounding that this trial is even necessary. The legalities of this are complicated but and who knows how an appeals court would handle it.

It seems like criminalizing cowardice. Public shaming is more appropriate but a felony? Is crime down in Florida? Why are they prosecuting this??

 

[Weki]

That pdf was very satisfying reading. Although her resignation may not have been a condition of the agreement, there is no doubt in my mind it was the reason for her resignation.

Just saw this and came in here to post it. But see someone beat me to it. Ha!

Yeah I think defense lawyers were gonna be on her you know what in all her cases! They would be moving to disqualify her left and right! She admitted she behaved inappropriately. I defended her reaming defense counsel but even I can see she lost control! The case got to her - all the dead children!

 

[arielilane]

BREAKING: Jury has been selected in FL v. #ScotPeterson, the Parkland school resource officer accused of failing to confront the school shooter that killed 17 and injured 17 more. OPENING STATEMENTS tomorrow morning at 9:45am ET.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1666150890242179083

Charges: Child Neglect (7 counts)
Culpable Negligence (3 counts)
Perjury Non-Official Proceeding (1 count)

https://twitter.com/x/status/1666156089769852929

https://twitter.com/cathyrusson

 

[arielilane]

Public scolding is in the ‘interests of justice’ for #Parkland shooter’s trial judge, who hugged prosecutors and lashed out at defense lawyers in court: Panel

https://twitter.com/x/status/1666158015739723801

 

[SeesSeas]

MSN

A jury of six was sworn in Tuesday [...]

A jury of four women and two men will decide if Peterson is guilty of child neglect, culpable negligence and perjury, for allegedly lying to investigators about how many gunshots he heard and the number of fleeing students he could see as he took cover 75 feet from the building, not moving for 48 minutes.

Among the six jurors: a Miami-Dade County Transit bus driver of 31 years; a cybersecurity researcher who has volunteered in schools to advance science and technology education; a financial crimes analyst who assists victims of consumer fraud; and a registered nurse.
[...]

 

[Gardenista]

Just saw this and came in here to post it. But see someone beat me to it. Ha!

Yeah I think defense lawyers were gonna be on her you know what in all her cases! They would be moving to disqualify her left and right! She admitted she behaved inappropriately. I defended her reaming defense counsel but even I can see she lost control! The case got to her - all the dead children!

You are much kinder than I am. From her coquettish behavior, I believe the notoriety went to her head.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Opening statements set for today in the trial of Parkland school resource officer who stayed outside during shooting | CNN

The trial of the former school resource officer who remained outside a Parkland, Florida, high school five years ago while 17 people were gunned down inside is scheduled to begin in earnest Wednesday, as the jury hears prosecutors and defense attorneys give their opening statements.

www.cnn.com

 

[AngTxGal]

Opening statements set for today in the trial of Parkland school resource officer who stayed outside during shooting | CNN

The trial of the former school resource officer who remained outside a Parkland, Florida, high school five years ago while 17 people were gunned down inside is scheduled to begin in earnest Wednesday, as the jury hears prosecutors and defense attorneys give their opening statements.

www.cnn.com

How this case is handle regarding the security guard’s actions may change the way security at schools is handled.
It is appalling, in the light of Uvalde, how cowardly trained and armed law enforcement can behave while unarmed are being murdered.

Does the state, school district, admin, security, law enforcement or anyone bear responsibility when prudent actions are not taken to prevent and save lives during active shooter events?
If the answer is No…
How can we ask anyone to go to a school each day for work or education without the ability to protect themselves?

JMO

 

[arielilane]

Former Parkland school resource officer #ScotPeterson is seen wiping away tears and shaking his head while prosecutor Steven Klinger presented the state's opening statement on Wednesday.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1666464084139581440

Peterson is accused of not following active shooter training during the school massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February 2018.

Defense attorney Mark Eiglarsh started his dramatic opening statement by strongly suggesting former Parkland school resource officer #ScotPeterson is being thrown “under the bus.” “He was sacrificed!” Eiglarsh exclaimed.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1666473358777622528

https://twitter.com/LawCrimeNetwork

 

[arielilane]

Breaking down the #ScotPeterson case with police and legal analysts. Prosecutors argue the #ParklandSchoolCop should have rushed the building to stop the massacre. The Defense says the former officer has been used as a scapegoat. Watch opening statements @ http://CourtTV.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/1666528083267010560

 

[arielilane]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1666505424617480194

Prosecutor: Deputy could have stopped Parkland school shooting but chose to take cover

A prosecutor told the jury that Scot Peterson took cover instead of charging inside a building to confront shooter Nikolas Cruz.

www.courttv.com

 

[Gardenista]

I'd need to know this guys salary before I could find him guilty.

 

[Weki]

I'd need to know this guys salary before I could find him guilty.

Right! I mean come on - he was solo, right? He was scared. The public shaming is enough. What the Uvalde cops did is waaaay worse. A solo resource officer being cowardly…..is he even a real cop? Or is he like a mall cop type?

 

[arielilane]

TRIAL HIGHLIGHTS

DAY 1 – 6/7/23

• The state and the defense delivered opening arguments.
• READ: Wide disagreement reigns in trial of deputy accused of not stopping Parkland killer
  • WATCH: Parkland School Cop Trial: Prosecution Opening Statement
  • WATCH: Parkland School Cop Trial: Defense Delivers Opening Statement
• Danielle Gilbert, who was in the 11th grade on Feb. 14, 2018, described the day of the shooting.
  • She said she ran to the windows, but the teacher then told them to get in the corner.
  • Gilbert described the shots as very loud.
  • A recording Gilbert made while she was in the school was played for the jury.
  • Gilbert described the 20 minutes between the end of the shootings and when the SWAT team rescued them as the longest 20 minutes of her life.
• Former teacher Ivy Schamis testified about what she experienced the day of the shooting.
  • Was inside classroom 1213 when the shooting began; Nicholas Sworet and Helana Ramsey were killed.
  • WATCH: Parkland School Cop Trial: Former Teacher Testifies
• An officer with the Coral Springs Police Department, Jeffrey Heinrich, who was off-duty and helping at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, because his wife was an employee and his son attended the school, described hearing the first shots fired.
  • Heinrich was wearing athletic shorts and a t-shirt and was unarmed
  • Heinrich couldn’t say where the shots were coming from.
  • He provided medical assistance to Kyle Laman, who had fled the third floor and was shot in the foot. Kyle gave a description of the shooter, and said that the gunman had an AK-47 weapon.

FL v. Scot R. Peterson: Parkland School Cop Trial

UPDATE: A Florida jury found Scot Peterson, the school resource officer accused of not confronting Nikolas Cruz, not guilty on all counts.

www.courttv.com

 

[AngTxGal]

I'd need to know this guys salary before I could find him guilty.

He was a police officer prior to this job, I haven’t gathered that he was head of security on campus but was a resource officer, armed but may not have had a bullet proof vest or shield or other protection.

Testimony describes him as not being at the scene, then arriving on scene. The campus is large, so he was in one location and then came to near the 1200 and 1300 buidings.

I would be interested to see what took place in active shooter the training.
These two scenarios are not the same
-Cop armed with multiple guns and ammo, with protective clothing, communicating by radio while they coordinate advance on a building with an active shooter

-Retired cop armed with handgun and limited ammo, without protective clothing and no communication with fellow cops on scene.

If this older gentleman, alone, not knowing shooter location, with security who was not armed, did not advance- And warrants prosecution- Wow!
Estimated upwards of 400 armed law enforcement at Uvalde, radios, and location of the shooter was known. I expect a wave of trails to come out of Uvalde!

Livid
JMO

 

[arielilane]

A trial continued Thursday morning for former Parkland resource officer Scot Peterson, who is accused of doing nothing to stop the 2018 shooting that killed 17 people.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1666905438489567248

Witnesses give testimony in trial of deputy accused of not stopping Parkland killer

Trial continued Thursday for former Parkland resource officer Scot Peterson, who accused of doing nothing to stop the 2018 shooting that killed 17 people.

upnorthlive.com

6/8/2023

The prosecutor, Scott Klinger, argued that there is clear video evidence of Peterson doing nothing to stop the shooting.

“You go to the gunshots; you’re trained to go towards those shots," Klinger said Wednesday. "Find that shooter. Every shot could be a death."

 

[Weki]

He was a police officer prior to this job, I haven’t gathered that he was head of security on campus but was a resource officer, armed but may not have had a bullet proof vest or shield or other protection.

Testimony describes him as not being at the scene, then arriving on scene. The campus is large, so he was in one location and then came to near the 1200 and 1300 buidings.

I would be interested to see what took place in active shooter the training.
These two scenarios are not the same
-Cop armed with multiple guns and ammo, with protective clothing, communicating by radio while they coordinate advance on a building with an active shooter

-Retired cop armed with handgun and limited ammo, without protective clothing and no communication with fellow cops on scene.

If this older gentleman, alone, not knowing shooter location, with security who was not armed, did not advance- And warrants prosecution- Wow!
Estimated upwards of 400 armed law enforcement at Uvalde, radios, and location of the shooter was known. I expect a wave of trails to come out of Uvalde!

Livid
JMO

Exactly! Are all the Uvalde cops going to be prosecuted?? I know it’s diff states but dang….this seems way over the line. JMO

 

[SeesSeas]

FL v. Scot R. Peterson: Parkland School Cop Trial

UPDATE: A Florida jury found Scot Peterson, the school resource officer accused of not confronting Nikolas Cruz, not guilty on all counts.

www.courttv.com

TRIAL HIGHLIGHTS

DAY 3 – 6/9/23

• Students who survived the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School testified about the scene inside the building during the shooting.
  • Marian Kabachenko, who testified with the assistance of a translator, is from Crimea and had been in the United States for about six weeks at the time of the shooting. He said he was in geography class with headphones on working on a project when the fire alarm went off.
  • Kabachenko suffered an injury to the back of his upper leg.
  • Kabachenko testified that he knew there was one shooter but he heard shots once he got outside of the building and was scared he was being targeted, prompting him to run again.
  • Arman Borghei was on the 3rd floor of the 1200 building with the 2nd fire alarm went off.
  • Borghei testified that he looked out of the window and saw Scot Peterson standing outside the building with his gun drawn. He said that Peterson was looking to the west (towards the football field.)
  • Ashley Paseltiner was on the first floor of building 7, in a classroom that faced building 12. She testified that she initially thought the roof was collapsing.
  • Paseltiner testified that she could hear gunshots, but did not see Scot Peterson that day.
• Former Coral Springs Police Officer Richard Best testified that when he responded to the scene he saw Peterson and went to him, believing his knowledge about the campus would be helpful.
  • He asked Peterson what the situation was, and was told that shots were fired on the second or third floor, and it was clear to him that Peterson meant inside the 1200 building.
  • Best said that Peterson did not go with him when he went toward the 1200 building and that if he had been told to stay back he would have continued going into the building anyway.
• Former Broward County Sheriff’s Sgt. Richard Van Der Eems, who helped clear the third floor with the SWAT team, testified that there was a lot of chaos: screaming, crying and broken glass.
  • Testified that training from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office is to go in and stop the threat.
  • Testified that he never saw Peterson enter any buildings.
  • Acknowledged there were radio issues, and that when he would try to talk he would only hear a tone.
• Coral Springs Police Officer Tim Burton testified that Peterson was in a “low ready” position at the scene and that he was concerned the shooter might be in the parking lot to the east based on what Peterson told him.
• The defense called its first witness, Melody Herzfeld, out of order because of availability issues.
  • Herzfeld was a theater teacher in the 700 building and testified that she thought she heard firecrackers from the direction of the football field.
  • Herzfeld said she saw Peterson speaking on the radio but did not know whether it was the sheriff’s office or school radio.

DAY 2 – 6/8/23

• WATCH: Shooting Survivor Says He Yelled for Help, But None Came
• WATCH: Parkland Shooting Survivor Watches Surveillance Video
• WATCH: Parkland School Cop Trial: Gunshots Played in Court
• READ MORE: Parkland shooting survivors testify in trial of school resource officer