Recap:
Updates:
Get Questions Answered:
Note: there are also many YouTube videos of the trial proceedings available to the public, since it was livestreamed
- "13 Key Moments That Shaped the Trial of Derek Chauvin" (The New York Times)
Updates:
Get Questions Answered:
- Chauvin murder trial: What to know as the first officer is tried in George Floyd’s death
- George Floyd: Why is the trial so important?
Note: there are also many YouTube videos of the trial proceedings available to the public, since it was livestreamed
Derek Chauvin's Trial - Background
After decades of high-profile cases in which police officers have largely been acquitted in cases of the abuse and killing of Black men and other people of color, Chauvin’s trial is sure to be viewed as a crucial test of what justice means in the aftermath of Floyd’s death" (Bailey). |
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In March 2021 began the criminal trial for former officer Derek Chauvin.
All former officers pleaded not guilty, and in late December 2020, a motion was filed asking the judge to delay the trial until June (Bogel-Burroughs).
In late February 2021, the Minneapolis City Council unanimously agreed to pay six social media influencers to spread city-approved updates about the murder trial of Chauvin. The social media partners will prevent the spread of possible misinformation and target Black, Native America, Latinx, Somali, and Hmong communities. The goal of this campaign was to increase access to information for communities that do not follow mainstream news sources or consume news in English. Some were concerned about this decision, and believed that city-funded influencers spreading "city-approved" messages were biased, and that this reflects a lack of trust between citizens and city institutions (CBS News). The City of Minneapolis abandoned the plan after a few days due to criticism from police accountability organizations and civil rights activists who believed the city was attempting to manipulate the narrative of Floyd's death (Vigdor).
It is estimated that $1 million was spent on security efforts ahead of the trial, which included fortifying buildings and bringing in the National Guard. There was opposition to this high-security approach, which some say has caused tensions to increase since the militarized approach resembled a similar aggressiveness that protestors faced from police. Some even said that the security preparations suggested that Chauvin would be acquitted (Bailey).
Learn More:
All former officers pleaded not guilty, and in late December 2020, a motion was filed asking the judge to delay the trial until June (Bogel-Burroughs).
In late February 2021, the Minneapolis City Council unanimously agreed to pay six social media influencers to spread city-approved updates about the murder trial of Chauvin. The social media partners will prevent the spread of possible misinformation and target Black, Native America, Latinx, Somali, and Hmong communities. The goal of this campaign was to increase access to information for communities that do not follow mainstream news sources or consume news in English. Some were concerned about this decision, and believed that city-funded influencers spreading "city-approved" messages were biased, and that this reflects a lack of trust between citizens and city institutions (CBS News). The City of Minneapolis abandoned the plan after a few days due to criticism from police accountability organizations and civil rights activists who believed the city was attempting to manipulate the narrative of Floyd's death (Vigdor).
It is estimated that $1 million was spent on security efforts ahead of the trial, which included fortifying buildings and bringing in the National Guard. There was opposition to this high-security approach, which some say has caused tensions to increase since the militarized approach resembled a similar aggressiveness that protestors faced from police. Some even said that the security preparations suggested that Chauvin would be acquitted (Bailey).
Learn More:
- "Minneapolis Will Pay Influencers to Fight Misinformation During Officers’ Trials" (The New York Times)
- "After backlash, Minneapolis scraps social ‘influencer’ plan for trial over killing of George Floyd" (The Washington Post)
- "Boarded up and lined with barbed wire, Minneapolis braces for murder trial in George Floyd’s death" (The Washington Post)
Jury Selection
In December 2020, prospective jurors were sent a questionnaire asking them to answer questions about their views on policing and BLM. Jury questionnaires are used to gather information on prospective jurors so that prosecutors and attorneys understand who might serve on the panel. This questionnaire is broken into six parts. Part 1 asks about their knowledge and views on Floyd, the officers who were charged, and the protests. Part 2 asks about media habits. Part 3 asks about interactions with police and police reform. The rest asks about personal history and opinions toward the justice system (Levenson).
Read the questionnaire here
On March 22, 2021 the 14th juror was selected. 12 jurors were called for originally, and at least two alternates. Among the 14, three were Black men, one was a Black woman, two women were multiracial, two were white men, and six were white women (Chappell).
Learn More:
Read the questionnaire here
On March 22, 2021 the 14th juror was selected. 12 jurors were called for originally, and at least two alternates. Among the 14, three were Black men, one was a Black woman, two women were multiracial, two were white men, and six were white women (Chappell).
Learn More:
- George Floyd death: How will jurors be selected in Derek Chauvin trial? (BBC)
- "How to Find an Impartial Jury in the Trial Over George Floyd’s Death" (The New York Times)
- "Twelve Jurors Seated in Chauvin Case"(The New York Times)
Additional Charge
The Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled that a lower court must reconsider whether to add a third-degree murder charge against Chauvin, which would delay the trial. Prosecutors wanted to add the third-degree charge, which would offer an additional means of winning a conviction (Arango, Tim, and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs) Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill postponed the start of Chauvin's trial, which was supposed to begin March 8, after the appeals court told him to reconsider his ruling to dismiss the third-degree charge (Chappell).
In hindsight, the delay for jury selection was minimal and actually moved more quickly than expected. The selection began March 9 and was complete by March 22 (Chappell). Learn More: |
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$27 Million Settlement
The City of Minneapolis agreed on March 12, 2021, to pay George Floyd's family $27 million to settle the family's lawsuit. Legal experts warned that this may make it more difficult to seat an impartial jury (which was already a challenge). This settlement is the largest reached before trial in a civil rights wrongful death lawsuit involving police. Some see this as a sign of great progress, while others are more skeptical of the impact, since the money will not change the police force (Bogels-Burroughs).
Learn more: |
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Denial of Trial Delay
Chauvin's lawyer requested that the judge delay the trial and change locations follow the $27 million settlement revelation. He also requested that the seven jurors who had already been selected be brought back for more questioning. Judge Cahill agreed to question the previously selected jurors again about what they knew related to the settlement. The city of Minneapolis has said that its settlement was independent of the trial, but experts say that it could influence the jurors and send the message that what Chauvin did was wrong (Arango, Tim and John Eligon). Judge Cahill ruled against motions by Chauvin's lawyer for a continuance and change of venue, saying that there is nowhere in Minnesota that hasn't been exposed to media coverage of the trial, so a delay would not be impactful. Judge Cahill had to dismiss two jurors who had been seated because they stated the settlement changed their views (Arango).
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2019 Arrest
Judge Cahill reversed a previous ruling and said that the defense could bring forward details about Floyd's 2019 arrest by Minneapolis police. In this arrest and the attempted arrest in May 2020, Floyd was accused of doing drugs when confronted by officers. This is important because the main basis of the defense is the argument that Floyd died of drug overdose rather than Chauvin kneeling on his neck. Prosecutors say this is a way of putting Floyd's character on trial, and that in 2019 he was given medical treatment, and he survived (Arango). However, Judge Cahill has said that the only videos from the 2019 arrest that could be relevant to the current trial are parts that are connected to Floyd's cause of death and medical condition, restricting how much of the police recordings might be used in the trial (Chappell).
The Trial
Week 1 of the trial consisted of accounts from bystanders who were at the scene when George Floyd died. The second week included testimony from medical experts and law enforcement officials regarding the cause of Floyd's death and Chauvin's conduct. The two questions at play were what killed George Floyd and whether Chauvin violated police policies on force. Multiple medical experts testified that Floyd died due to deprivation of oxygen rather than complications from drug use and a heart condition, which Chauvin's lawyer had claimed. Law enforcement officials stated that Chauvin did violate policy by kneeling on Floyd (Wright).
Learn more here: "5 Takeaways From the Second Week of the Derek Chauvin Trial" (The New York Times)
Learn more here: "5 Takeaways From the Second Week of the Derek Chauvin Trial" (The New York Times)
Cause of Death
Dr. Andrew Baker, Hennepin County medical examiner, did not place the sole blame for Floyd's death on the police in his testimony. He stated that police restraint was the main cause of Floyd's death, but also referenced drug use and heart disease as contributing factors. Other medical experts have testified that the pressure of the officers kneeling on Floyd caused his death, not his underlying conditions. During the investigation. Dr. Baker made statements that the prosecution believed minimized the impact of Chauvin's use of force, such as suggesting that if Floyd's body was found at home, his death could be attributed to overdose and not an encounter with police. In order to convict Chauvin of murder, the jury must find his restraint of Floyd to be a "substantial causal factor" to his death (Arango, Tim, et al.).
Forensic pathologist Dr. Lindsey Thomas, who helped train Dr. Baker, agreed that the cause of death was “cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement’s subdual, restraint, and neck compression" along with adding that Floyd died of lack of oxygen. She believed that Floyd would have lived if Chauvin had not knelt on him (Arango, Tim, et al.).
Learn more:
Forensic pathologist Dr. Lindsey Thomas, who helped train Dr. Baker, agreed that the cause of death was “cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement’s subdual, restraint, and neck compression" along with adding that Floyd died of lack of oxygen. She believed that Floyd would have lived if Chauvin had not knelt on him (Arango, Tim, et al.).
Learn more:
- "Despite Other Factors, Police Caused Floyd’s Death, Medical Examiner Says" (The New York Times)
- "George Floyd’s Cause of Death Is Crucial in Trial. Forensic Pathologists Explain." (The New York Times)
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