i never thought i would be sitting here agreeing with every word john burris would say. [laughter] this is the first time i have had an opportunity to be with him. however, i do agree with him. it has to be enforced throughout the organization. what we expect up our people. what we want to ensure up our people, particularly the integrity and the values aspect. many of us, not many, but quite a few departments have of all you statement. ethics, integrity are part of those values. it is not just a document that is on a wall. it is something we have to believe that every level and in force at every level. in preparing for this, i found an absolutely wonderful article, "the truth about the police code of silence revealed." i really recommend that you take a look at that. i'm going to recommend most police chiefs take a look at this. there are profiles. he talks about the code of silence. that is about the fact that there is. how you prevent the code of silence? it is like how do you prevent crime? or how do you stop crime, let's put it that way. the best way to prevent these

to help us braep break down this case, i'm joined my ken padowitz, and john burris, thanks to both of you for joining me tonight. ken, let me start with you, is this the road map the prosecution will use against zimmerman? >> absolutely, it's like the skeleton to the case that the prosecution is going to lay out before the jury. it definitely goes into the type of evidence they have, how they're going to prove the elements to the charge of second-degree murder, and how they're going to prove their case beyond and to the exclusion of every reasonable doubt to a jury. >> john, the prosecution must prove for conviction, the victim is dead, two the death was caused by a criminal act by the defendant, and three the victim unlawfully killed by an act imminently dangerous to another, and demonstrating a depraved mind without regard for human life. that's what they have to prove in florida. if convicted, zimmerman will face 25 years to life in prison. if your opinion, and you have been a defense attorney, do you think they would have moved for murder two as opposed to manslaughter unless they

said today on the panel -- and i cannot believe i am going to say this -- i completely agree with john burris and stuart hanlon. [applause] >> thank you for giving my closing comments from me. i would like to thank the public defender's office for providing the public and anybody he wants to come to this forum, hearing from these experts, and they help you take away some good things from this -- and i hope you take away some good things you take away some good things from this panel. >> so many people here. this is the third and final panel for those of you who have stayed. this is going to be an incredible discussion. leading the panel, this is the chief attorney of the public defender's office, matt gonzalez. >> let me talk about how we decided to have a panel as part of this year is just a summit on the death penalty. san francisco is often known for being a large city, in this case, we have a unique history with the death penalty. during his reelection campaign of 1999, terrence hallohan said that they would not seek the death penalty for any offense in san francisco. he was reelected by

i think we have john burris as well in the last few minutes.out the process here, a lot of evidence that will be revealed later through public information, the media pursuing it, and other points, perhaps won't be laid out by angela corey when she makes this announcement. >> it is hard to know. she may try to give what could amount to be a summary of the evidence, but usually that doesn't happen when charges are announced precisely because there is going to be a defense laureate some point if charges are brought and you don't want to fuel their arguments that somehow the prosecution is overly worked the press, created unfair environment for the defendant by hyping their case and by generating a needless pretrail publicity. there is certainly enough publicity about this case as it is. to answer questions, are you confidp't you're going to be able to arrest and secure george zimmerman, things like that and normally not the equivalent of an opening statement in the course of a prosecute he is conference. >> john, we also know this other news confe

and john burris. thank you both for your time and for joining me tonight. you, katherine. is it significant that this judge might be forced to step down from the case? >> the way you phrased it, yes. but since there haven't been proceedings yet, it's not that it would be a problem. i don't see that an analyst in her husband's law firm is a conflict that would require the judge to recuse herself. unless you can show more of a relationship, i don't think this is a rescuesble circumstance. >> let me go to you, john. the lawyers have staked out where they are. you have the special prosecutor, and mr. o'mara. he has represented a serial killer, gang members, known for calm, savvy litigation style. and almost from the beginning he has shown sympathy to the family, he has not come off as amateur like like his predecessors in handling this case. he has tried to be cool and calm and respectful. you have on the other hand the prosecutor who has been very compassionate, raising the pain of the parents, the loss of life, so we're seeing their styles and thae playing to

and eugene o'donnell and john burris, thank you as well. all have a great weekend. >> thank you. >>> much more on today's hearing coming up. i'll talk to the lawyer for trayvon martin's family, ben crump, about their reaction to today's hearing and to zimmerman's apology. you're watching "politics nation" on msnbc. [ leanne ] appliance park has been here since the early 50s. my dad and grandfather spent their whole careers here. [ charlie ] we're the heartbeat of this place, the people on the line. we take pride in what we do. when that refrigerator ships out the door, it's us that work out here. [ michael ] we're on the forefront of revitalizing manufacturing. we're proving that it can be done here, and it can be done well. [ ilona ] i came to ge after the plant i was working at closed after 33 years. ge's giving me the chance to start back over. [ cindy ] there's construction workers everywhere. so what does that mean? it means work. it means work for more people. [ brian ] there's a bright future here, and there's a chance to get on the

catherine crier and john burris, thank you for your time tonight. >> thank you so much. >> we're back with more on the breaking news today. zimmerman's lawyers quit. so where is george zimmer plan? stay with us. is this what we're doing now? i don't want a plunger anywhere near my coffee. not in my house. with maxwell house french roast, you let gravity do the work. [ male announcer ] maxwell house french roast. always good to the last drop. free streaming quotes, all your investments, positions, and even your trade ticket are all on one customizable page. see the all-new 360 investing dashboard at e-trade. >>> bomb shell news today in the trayvon martin case. george zimmerman lawyers lost contact with their client and the attorney for trayvon's family is worried he is a flight risk. we will have more on all of this next. get two miracles in one product. new tone rehab 2-in-1 foundation. covers spots, lines... and wrinkles. and helps improve skin tone over time. new tone rehab from easy... breezy... beautiful... covergirl! covergirl! that is better than today. since 1894, ameriprise f

as well as criminal defense attorney john burris.hank you for joining me, you were based in florida, or i should say you are based in florida. let me get your response saying that this was the politically safe move in this case to not have this grand jury. >> well, i think the politically safer move would have been to have a grand jury say i presented the evidence. they decided charges. they decided no charges. that gives the prosecutor a little bit of cover. and said what she's decided she would do is make the decision herself. which means that there will be public reaction either way, strong public reaction. and i give her all the credit for it. at the end of the day, she is the special prosecutor appointed by the governor. she ought to make the decision. and it will be a controversial decision, whatever it is. at least she is not running for cover. >> could she have made this announcement before today? as we pointed out, a lot of people have been following this, expected a grand jury to convene. possibly tomorrow. >> well, she cou