JUDGE RULES POLICE SPECTATORS AT COP KILLER’S MURDER TRIAL CANNOT WEAR THEIR UNIFORMS

The courts have ruled that a criminal defendant must wear civilian clothing during his trial because a jail uniform might sway a jury against him. It seems logical then, that the presence of a whole bunch of uniformed cops in the courtroom might also sway a jury against the defendant.

A couple of PoliceOne readers suggested that the cops pack the courtroom wearing "Justice for Barbara Pill" T-shirts. Not a bad idea, but that would be much more likely to sway the jury against the accused killer of Brevard County Deputy Barbara Pill than if the cops had worn their uniforms.

JUDGE: POLICE CAN’T WEAR UNIFORMS AT COP KILLER’S TRIAL
The defendant’s attorney argued a ‘sea of blue’ would sway the jury’s decision

PoliceOne
January 24, 2013

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A judge has enacted a policy barring police officers from wearing their uniforms or other insignia while in attendance of the trial for a man accused of killing a Brevard County sheriff’s deputy.

Judge Morgan Reinman enacted the policy after Brandon Bradley’s attorney argued that a "sea of blue" in the courtroom would influence the jury and prevent Bradley from a fair trial. He is accused of fatally shooting deputy Barbara Pill at a traffic stop in 2012, according to Florida Today.

The police barring the wearing of uniforms does not apply to witnesses and court deputies.

Bradley is charged with first-degree murder for the death of Pill, who pulled Bradley over for allegedly stealing from a motel, according to WFTV. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

Andria Kerchner, who was in the suspect's vehicle at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. She was sentenced to 12 years in prison. As part of her plea deal with the state, Kerchner has agreed to testify truthfully in Bradley's trial.