Policy

Experts See Little Chance for Federal Prosecution of Zimmerman

They'd have a weaker case than the one he already beat

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While the reaction to George Zimmerman's acquittal in the Trayvon Martin killing resembles the backlash against the 1992 not guilty verdict in the Rodney King beating, legal analysts said there is little likelihood of another successful federal prosecution on civil rights or hate crimes charges.

Although the neighborhood watch volunteer still could face a wrongful-death civil lawsuit brought by Trayvon's family — echoes of another bitterly disputed criminal verdict: the O.J. Simpson case — the key issue in the King case, of state law enforcement officers abusing their power, is plainly not present with Mr. Zimmerman.