Zimmerman Legal Defense Fund Trust
“The sad fact is if you don’t have money, you cannot defend yourself. God bless and good luck.”
The message above was accompanied with a $40 donation to the Zimmerman Legal Defense Fund Trust, and it is a true statement.
The State has virtually unlimited resources to prosecute George. To finance his defense, however, George relies on the generosity of individuals who believe he is innocent. These are people who question the motives behind the charge against George. These are people who resent the high-profile rush to judgement against George. These are people who fear George will not get a fair trial.
George is innocent -- yet he has been convicted in the court of public opinion. The defense team has been doggedly committed to the vigorous defense of George Zimmerman, and remains committed despite the personal and financial sacrifice that has been required. We will see this through to the end, and we will not be satisfied until we see justice served in the form of immunity or an acquittal, and we will not stop unitl the wrongs against George have been set right.
In this effort, we need your help.
The State of the Defense Fund
As of January 2, 2013, the George Zimmerman Defense Fund has received $314,099.17. We are amazed by the thousands of people who have donated what they could to ensure George gets a fair trial.
But we have a long way to go. When Mark O’Mara accepted the Zimmerman case, he, along with many other legal analysts, predicted the defense would cost more than $1,000,000. The defense has moved forward on a shoestring budget, relying on individuals who have been willing to work for free or at a substantially reduced rate. To date, attorneys Mark O’Mara and Don West have not been paid for their services.
George’s trial has been set for June of 2013. A Self-Defense Immunity Hearing is likely to happen two months before then. For the defense team, the hardest work lies ahead, including significant expenses for experts and investigators. Currently, thanks to donors who continue to keep George in their prayers, enough money has been coming in to satisfy the bare minimum required to keep the defense afloat. We’ve come close to a zero balance on many occasions, and there is no guarantee donations will continue.
Our Fundraising Goal
As we prepare for a Self-Defense Immunity Hearing or a trial, the cold fact is that we must raise more money. Our goal is to raise $30,000 per month. This represents the minimum we calculate we need to conduct the defense George deserves, and this figure does not include any attorney's fees.
Because we are asking you to donate more money, we want to tell you how your donations have been spent and how we plan to spend future donations. That’s what this website is for. Here’s what you are going to find as you explore this site: