On GMA, Dan Abrams Explains Role Of Grand Jury: ‘You Don’t Need It’ In Florida

ABC News legal analyst and Mediaite founder Dan Abrams took some time this morning to discuss the Florida State Attorney Angela Corey‘s decision against having a grand jury in the Trayvon Martin case.

“Remember,” Abrams advised, “this special prosecutor said from the beginning that she might not want a grand jury.” It was a different prosecutor entirely, he said, who had initially impaneled a grand jury for this case.

RELATED: George Zimmerman Debuts Website, Requests Funds For Trayvon Martin Case

“Typically,” he explained, “you want the grand jury in Florida for political cover. You don’t need it; you can use it. In some states they don’t have them at all, in other states it’s required. In Florida you get to choose, if you’re the prosecutor.”

“I don’t think that the authorities were ever looking at a first degree, premeditated murder charge here,” he added. “I think more likely you’re talking about something like aggravated manslaughter, a manslaughter charge, etc.”

RELATED: State Attorney Decides Against Using Grand Jury In Trayvon Martin Case

As for George Zimmerman‘s new website, created in the hopes of gathering money to help pay for his defense, Abrams pointed out that “everyone is entitled to a legal defense” and that Zimmerman is “definitely going to get sued in civil court,” and so has hefty legal fees to pay in his future.

Have a look, via ABC:

Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.com