who is prosecuting attorney in chauvin trial

by Dr. Thora Koss 5 min read

Who are Derek Chauvin’s lawyers?

Dec 08, 2021 · Eldridge was one of the prosecuting attorneys in the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd. Reporting from the Associated Press was used in ...

Who is prosecuting Chauvin’s case?

Mar 30, 2021 · Urbanites noticed the Black prosecutor, Jerry Blackwell, chosen to prosecute the Derek Chauvin murder trial being seen around the world.

Did urbanites take notice of the black prosecutor at Derek Chauvin trial?

Apr 05, 2021 · While Derek Chauvin’s attorney, Eric Nelson, works alone, the prosecution is being handled by two assistant attorneys general, Matthew Frank and Erin Eldridge, and two outside lawyers, Jerry ...

Who is the prosecutor in the Minnesota murder case?

Apr 21, 2021 · The prosecution was led by the head of Minnesota’s criminal division, Assistant Attorney General Matthew Frank. Outside lawyers include Steven Schleicher, a former federal prosecutor who handled ...

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Who were the three people arrested in the Mason case?

Following the arrest of Mason and five others, an angry mob broke into the police station, pulled the men from their cells, and held a "mock trial" in which they found Isaac McGhie, Elmer Jackson and Elias Clayton guilty. The three men were beaten and lynched.

Who represents 3M?

Blackwell has successfully represented the 3M Company in a number of cases, including one brought by former Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson, Ellison's predecessor. The Blackwell Burke P.A. website touts Blackwell' s ability to "communicate complicated legal, scientific and business issues to jurors.".

WHY DID BLACKWELL GIVE THE OPENING STATEMENT?

The undercurrent of racial tension — a white police officer accused of killing a Black man — can’t be ignored. Blackwell is a prominent Black civil rights attorney and one of the founders of the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers.

ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIN ELDRIDGE QUESTIONED TWO OF THE YOUNGEST WITNESSES. WHY?

Eldridge joined the Minnesota attorney general’s office in 2018. Before that, she served as a special assistant U.S. attorney in Nebraska and the Northern District of Iowa.

IS THERE A DRAWBACK TO USING SO MANY DIFFERENT PROSECUTORS?

St. Louis University School of Law professor Sue McGraugh said she sought to make a personal connection with jurors when she was a prosecutor. She said she’s rarely seen a case with so many prosecutors, and that it carries some risk.

SO, WHY SO MANY?

It’s evidence of the stakes in the trial that Daly called “possibly one of the most important cases ever in the United States and possibly the world.”

WHAT IS THE FULL DEPTH OF THE PROSECUTION TEAM?

The prosecution team has 13 lawyers, said John Stiles, Ellison’s spokesman, and a 14th acted as a jury consultant.

WHAT ABOUT THE DEFENSE?

Nelson is the lone defense attorney, aided in court by a legal assistant who is also an attorney but who hasn’t taken part in the courtroom arguments. The defense is funded through the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association’s legal defense fund.

Who is the judge in the Hennepin County case?

The judge in the case is Peter Cahill, who was appointed to the bench in 2007 and before that had run the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office for 10 years and also had his own private law practice.

Who is Jerry Blackwell?

Jerry Blackwell, one of the founders of the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, and the CEO of Blackwell Burke, is assisting the prosecution team without charge. Mr Blackwell handled the prosecution’s opening arguments in the case late last month.

Who was the head of the prosecution in Chauvin's case?

Following Chauvin's conviction, Ellison , who served as the head of prosecution, held a televised press conference in which he thanked his prosecution team. Hennepin County District Attorney Mike Freeman and trial lawyers Steve Schleider, Jerry Blackwell and Matthew Frank were among those who spoke at Ellison 's post-trial press conference.

When was Chauvin sentenced to prison?

It was the first conviction of a white officer in Minnesota for the murder of a black person. On June 25, 2021, Chauvin was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison for the second-degree murder. The trial was held at the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis, and it ran from March 8, 2021, through April 20.

What was the body camera footage of Floyd?

Body camera footage from the four officers involved was entered into evidence and shown at trial. Shortly after Floyd was taken away in an ambulance Chauvin's body camera shows him responding to a bystander who took issue with his kneeling on Floyd's neck. Chauvin responded to the bystander saying, "That's one person's opinion, we had to control this guy because he's a sizable guy. It looks like he's probably on something." Prosecutors also showed surveillance footage of Floyd at Cup Foods shortly before his death.

Did the jury reach the right verdict in the Chauvin case?

Three in four Americans share the view that the jury reached the right verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin. Among White Americans, 90% of Democrats polled believe the right verdict was reached while only 54% of Republicans find the guilty decision to be correct. 93% of Black Americans agree with the decision. Polling shows that of the 25% who believe that the jury did not reach the right decision, they also " strongly disagree " with the beliefs of the Black Lives Matter movement. They largely identify as conservative, they are composed of more men than women, and they are disproportionately White. President Biden had a 60% approval rating for his handling of matters surrounding Floyd's death and Chauvin's trial, similar to his overall job rating of his first 100 days in office.

What did the Guardian report about the trial?

The Guardian reported that countries around the word showed an intense interest in the trial with news organizations live blogging the proceedings and the guilty outcome of the trial . They commented that many felt relief that the jury had delivered a verdict that many felt was correct and questioned what it meant for future U.S. racial relations. Summarizing world coverage they reported:

When did the Hennepin County jury questionnaire come out?

On December 22, 2020, prospective jurors in Hennepin County were mailed a questionnaire asking about their views on the criminal justice system, the police, and social movements. The questionnaire also asked prospective jurors to disclose how many times they viewed videos of Floyd's death and whether they participated in the George Floyd protests.

Who said Chauvin betrayed his badge?

Opening statements from the prosecution and the defense were heard on March 29, 2021. Prosecutor Jerry Blackwell started opening statements saying that "Mr. Chauvin betrayed his badge" while defense attorney Eric Nelson said that "Chauvin did exactly what he had been trained to do".

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Overview

Trial

Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill presided over the case. Cahill has been a judge since 2007 and previously worked as both a public defender and prosecutor.
On May 31, 2020, Governor Tim Walz announced that Attorney General Keith Ellison would lead the prosecution instead of County Attorney Michael O. Free…

Background

Derek Chauvin was one of four officers of the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) involved in the arrest of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, on suspicion of using a counterfeit $20 bill at a market. He also served as the field training officerfor one of the other officers involved. While Floyd was handcuffed and lying facedown on the street, Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for nine minutes and 29 …

Reactions

Protests, rallies, and marches have occurred outside of the courthouse, which officials surrounded with a temporary concrete barrier, metal fencing, and barbed wirein anticipation of civil unrest. In early 2021, Minneapolis and Hennepin County officials spent $1 million on fencing and barricades for government buildings and police stations in anticipation of civil unrest during t…

Opinion polling

Three in four Americans share the view that the jury reached the right verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin. Among White Americans, 90% of Democrats polled believe the right verdict was reached while only 54% of Republicans find the guilty decision to be correct. 93% of Black Americans agree with the decision. Polling shows that of the 25% who believe that the jury did not reach the right decision, they also "strongly disagree" with the beliefs of the Black Lives Matter movement. …

External links

• Media related to State v. Chauvin at Wikimedia Commons
• Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin found guilty of murdering George Floyd at Wikinews
• State vs. Derek Chauvin (27-CR-20-12646) at Minnesota Judicial Branch