Derek Chauvin trial live: Court seek two more jurors with one week until opening statements

March 22, 2021

MINNEAPOLIS — Jury selection in the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was expected to enter its third week Monday, with just seven days to go before opening statements and at least two jurors still to be seated.

Thirteen jurors have been seated thus far. Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill said the court would pick two more jurors for a total of 15 – 12 to deliberate and three to serve as alternates.

Floyd, a Black man, died in police custody on May 25, 2020, after Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes. As he lay on the ground under Chauvin, Floyd cried out, “I can’t breathe” more than 20 times. The incident sparked protests worldwide.

Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Latest updates:

Jury selection was scheduled to resume at 9 a.m. CT Monday.
Thirteen jurors — five men and eight women — have been selected. Seven identify as white, two as multiracial and four as Black, according to the court. Five of the jurors are in their 20s or 30s, three in their 40s, four in their 50s and one in their 60s.
Attorneys for the defense and prosecution have spent the past two weeks questioning potential jurors about their views on racism, discrimination, policing of communities of color and Black Lives Matter. Last week, lead defense attorney Eric Nelson told a prospective juror that the trial is “not about race.”
Jurors will be allowed to hear evidence related to George Floyd’s arrest in 2019, Cahill ruled Friday. He also denied the defense’s request to move or delay the trial.
Opening statements are scheduled to start March 29.

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A look at Derek Chauvin’s jury so far

Thirteen jurors, five men and eight women, have been selected for Chauvin’s trial. Given the circumstances of Floyd’s death — a Black man dying under the knee of a white police officer — the racial makeup of the jury is a key concern. Seven of the jurors identify as white, two as multiracial and four as Black, according to the court. As many as four people could be chosen to serve as alternates.

The court added its 13th juror Friday. The white woman in her 50s is a self-described animal lover with a passion for affordable housing. Here’s a quick look at who else is on the jury:

A white woman in her 40s who works in insurance and said she loves the state of Minnesota
A Black woman in her 60s who retired from marketing and said she loves spending time with her grandkids
A white nurse in her 50s who works with ventilated COVID-19 patients
A mixed-race woman in her 40s who works in company reorganization
A Black man in his 40s who works in management and has lived in Hennepin County for two decades
A white woman in her 50s who works in healthcare and likes to ride her motorcycle
A Black man in his 30s who works in banking and teaches youth sports
A white woman in her 50s who works at a nonprofit and is the single mother of two teenage sons
A Black man in his 30s who works in tech and immigrated from Africa to the U.S.
A white auditor in his 30s
A mixed-race woman in her 20s who said she was “super excited” to serve
A white chemist in his 20s who plays Ultimate Frisbee

As of Friday afternoon, the defense has used 13 of its 18 peremptory challenges, which it can use to strike potential jurors without having to explain why. The state has used seven of its 10.

Last week, the court cut two jurors because they said they were influenced by the city’s historic $27 million settlement with Floyd’s family.

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