Jury selection in the George Zimmerman trial begins June 10 and with just days to go, police, court officials, and people who live in Sanford are getting ready.
The Seminole County courthouse parking lot is filling up fast. News organizations from all over the world are setting up, and police are increasing their patrols. It’s vacation season, but not for Sanford police. Officers can’t take time off, until George Zimmerman’s trial is over.
That means more patrols.
So far, law enforcement agencies have remain tight-lipped about specifics. They do say security will be in place, and they will be ready for anything.
“Through whenever the trial is complete, there are plans that are in place. Again, because of the sensitivity of the plans I can’t release that information,” said Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith.
Several areas across Sanford will be designated for protestors. At the Seminole County Criminal Justice Center where the trial will take place, protestors will have to stay in a grassy area in front of the courthouse, and they will be divided into two sections with deputies watching people closely.
At the civil courthouse in Downtown Sanford, protesters will be kept on the sidewalks all around the building.
Members of the public will be able to watch the trial from inside the courtroom each day. But to keep order, the court will hold a daily lottery for the two dozen seats available to the public.
“I think it’s fair, it’s better than people fighting over it, and I think everybody gets a turn, and it’s something everybody has been waiting for. It’s the George Zimmerman case, the biggest case going on right now so,” said Julio, a Seminole County resident interested in the case.