Trayvon Martin

With the season of giving well under way, supporters of George Zimmerman are hoping to entice donations by offering thank-you notes personally signed by the man awaiting trial in Florida on charges he killed an unarmed African American teenager. The notes will be sent to donors of the New George Zimmerman Defense Fund -- the latest fundraising effort, which was announced this week on Zimmerman's official website. In the announcement, Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara, said the old fund raised just over $140,000 since it was established in May. "Currently, the balance of the George Zimmerman Defense Fund is at its lowest, and new funds must be raised to support George's living expenses and legal costs," according to the post.

George Zimmerman's attorneys can subpoena the school records of Trayvon Martin, a judge ruled Friday during a hearing in the celebrated Florida case that has ignited racial tensions. Circuit Judge Debra Nelson ruled that Zimmerman's defense team can seek the school records but must keep the information confidential. The ruling was the first in a scheduled afternoon of arguments in the case. In general, Zimmerman's lawyers are seeking more evidence in the case, some of which they contend the state has been slow to deliver.

The second-degree murder trial of George Zimmerman, charged in the killing of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin, is tentatively set for June 10, a Florida judge decided on Wednesday. Circuit Judge Debra S. Nelson set the date, but the defense said there were still several issues pending, including a self-defense immunity hearing. Zimmerman has argued that he shot Martin in self-defense and acted legally under Florida's “stand uour ground” law. In a later tweet , defense attorneys said they would seek a stand-your-ground hearing in April or May. If they are successful, Zimmerman would not face trial in the shooting.

Attorneys for George Zimmerman alleged in court papers that state prosecutors have failed to provide complete and timely information they need to prepare for their client's murder case and are seeking greater court supervision of pre-trial issues. In court papers dated Friday, the defense team is seeking monthly meetings of at least two hours before a judge or the appointment of a retired judge to manage the discovery phase of the proceedings against Zimmerman, charged with second-degree murder.  Zimmerman, 29, has argued that he acted in self-defense when he shot an unarmed African American teenager, Trayvon Martin, on Feb. 26 in Sanford, Fla.  “The state's approach to discovery has been to require the defense to figure out what the state has failed to provide and then ask for it rather than fulfilling the state's legal obligation to provide complete and timely discovery,” defense attorney Donald R. West said in his motion, announced on the defense website on Monday.

Only DNA from George Zimmerman was found on the grip of the gun that was used in the fatal shooting of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin, according to DNA test results released Wednesday. The test results were in the latest batch of discovery material released by officials in the notorious murder case , which has become a national flashpoint in race relations and gun laws. Zimmerman, 28, is free on bail awaiting trial on charges of second-degree murder in the killing of Martin, an African American teenager, who was shot to death in a confrontation at a gated community in Sanford, Fla., on Feb. 26. The tests on the gun and the holster were performed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Defense lawyers are seeking the school records of Trayvon Martin , the black teenager shot to death earlier this year by George Zimmerman in a confrontation at a gated community in Florida. Zimmerman is facing a second-degree murder charge in the celebrated case. In a post on the defense website, Zimmerman's lawyers said they have sent subpoenas to schools attended by Martin, 17, who was killed Feb. 26. Zimmerman has maintained that he shot the unarmed Martin in self-defense.

Lawyers for George Zimmerman will seek a hearing under Florida's “stand your ground” self-defense law, which could result in the dismissal of all criminal charges against the man accused of killing Trayvon Martin . Zimmerman's defense team will use the controversial state law -- which allows the use of deadly force when someone fears severe injury or death -- because there is “clear support for a strong claim of self-defense,” lawyer...

The judge sitting on the case of George Zimmerman, accused of second-degree murder in the Florida shooting of teenager Trayvon Martin, has refused to disqualify himself and will stay on the case. In a ruling released Wednesday, Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. rejected a defense motion that he step aside because Zimmerman's team feared the judge would treat their client unfairly. Lester ruled that the motion was “legally insufficient” for him to recuse himself. Zimmerman, 28, is accused of second-degree murder in the death of unarmed Martin, 17, on Feb. 26 in Sanford, Fla. Zimmerman has admitted to shooting Martin, an African American, but has insisted he acted in self-defense after the two scuffled.

Fearful that its movie "Neighborhood Watch" would be associated with the Feb. 26 Trayvon Martin shooting, 20th Century Fox in May changed the title of the comedy to"The Watch. " However, the film shares little in common with the death of the 17-year-old at the hands of a neighborhood-watch volunteer. The movie, which hits theaters Friday, stars Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill and Richard Ayoade as fathers who decide to start their own neighborhood watch and subsequently take on aliens invading their town.

George Zimmerman no longer believes he will get a fair “stand your ground” hearing or fair trial in the Trayvon Martin shooting case, and he has asked the presiding judge to step down, according to a defense motion filed in court. The request comes a week after Seminole County Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester, Jr., raised Zimmerman's bond to $1 million and described Zimmerman as a manipulator who had “flouted the legal system.” He also wrote that Zimmerman appeared to be poised to flee the country with $130,000 in hidden money.