Jury Selection Delayed In Trial Of Ex-Cop Derek Chauvin

The jury selection in the trial against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been put on hold for at least a day while an appeal is underway on whether to reinstate a third-degree murder charge.

Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill threw out the charge last fall, but prosecutors appealed his decision. Last week, an appeals court ordered Cahill to reconsider his decision to throw out the charge.

Cahill initially indicated he wanted to proceed with the jury selection, even though the decision on the final charge has not been made. Cahill decided to send the jurors home for the day after prosecutors threatened to file an appeal to stop the jury selection.

"Realistically, we're not going to get to any jury selection," Cahill said. "We won't have an answer [on the prosecution's appeal] until at least tomorrow. So unless any of the parties object, I'm going to kick our jurors loose and start everything tomorrow with jury selection."

It could take up to three weeks to select 12 jurors and four alternates. Opening arguments are scheduled to begin on March 29.

Cahill said that we would still hear preliminary motions from both sides as they prepare for the trial. Chauvin is facing charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter for his role in the death of George Floyd.

Photo: Getty Images


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