George Floyd Trial: Judge Not Happy Over City’s $27 Million Settlement

It’s already a shit show.

On Monday, the judge in the George Floyd trial expressed concern that the city of Minneapolis had paid out a massive $27 million settlement to the family of the deceased last week.

Clearly exasperated that the Minneapolis City Council’s poorly timed decision could taint the jury pool in the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin who is accused of murdering the 46-year-old petty criminal and drug addict last year and he has reason to be concerned.

It was already going to be a tough rock to roll finding unbiased jurors in a city that was torn apart by violent riots last summer after a video of Floyd’s fateful encounter with law enforcement went viral without the important context of the perp resisting arrest.

Not only were large sections of downtown Minneapolis reduced to burned-out rubble but the subsequent war against police by the city council which is packed with Black Lives Matter activists led to a major increase in crime throughout the city.

There was also the media sensationalism which was not helped by the local leaders’ bizarre move to settle out of court before there was even a verdict rendered against Chauvin.

“I wish city officials would stop talking about this case so much,” said Judge Peter Cahill while adding that he didn’t see an “evil intent” to swing the case against Chauvin by the city council with the obvious caveat being that he would never dare to admit it if he did.

Via Reuters, “Judge in George Floyd police trial to weigh if $27 million settlement taints jury”:

The judge in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with murdering George Floyd in a deadly arrest, said on Monday he was concerned publicity about the city’s $27 million settlement with Floyd’s family could taint the jury pool.

Calling the timing of Friday’s settlement announcement “unfortunate,” Judge Peter Cahill of the Hennepin County District Court said he would recall seven jurors seated last week to ask if they had seen news of the settlement and whether it would affect their impartiality.

“I wish city officials would stop talking about this case so much,” the judge said before resuming jury selection on Monday morning. “At the same time, I don’t find any evil intent that they are trying to tamper with the criminal case.”

The trial in a heavily fortified tower in downtown Minneapolis is being closely watched as a bellwether of the way U.S. law enforcement agencies use force and violence in policing Black people.

While the lawyers all made major bank, the scales of justice continue to be tipped against Chauvin who was already going to have a difficult time getting a fair trial, a prospect that is looking increasingly likely if the proceedings aren’t moved to a venue outside of Minneapolis.