Ex-cop Derek Chauvin (photo, right), charged by prosecutors with murdering George Floyd, will soon go on trial.
Selecting an impartial jury will be challenging, not only because of the enormous publicity the case has received, but also because many people have strong feelings about it.
The jury questionnaire (read it here), of course, asks potential jurors what they’ve heard about the case, and whether they have “negative,” “neutral,” or “positive” feelings toward the police officers and George Floyd. Guess which answers get them kicked out of the jury pool?
It asks potential jurors whether they’ve participated in demonstrations related to the incident. Guess what answer gets them kicked out of the jury pool?
It asks whether they suffered injury or property damage from a George Floyd protest. Guess what answer gets them kicked out of the jury pool?
It asks each potential juror if the cops ever beat the crap out of them (although not exactly in those words). Guess what answer gets them kicked out of the jury pool?
My guess is they’re gonna need a large jury pool.