Judge Debra Nelson told prosecutors and defense attorneys they should plan on starting closing arguments Thursday.
The judge also said the six jurors could begin deliberating as early as Friday.
Zimmerman's defense attorneys rested Wednesday after calling 18 witnesses over four days.
Defense attorney Mark O'Mara told CNN there's "overwhelming evidence" that Zimmerman acted in self-defense when he fatally shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, but he worries about jurors returning "a compromise verdict." Some legal analysts have suggested the jury could convict him of the lesser offense of manslaughter.
Zimmerman is pleading not guilty to second-degree murder.
[Associated
Press; By MIKE SCHNEIDER and KYLE HIGHTOWER]
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