MINNEAPOLIS (NewsNation Now) — A panel of 12 jurors and additional alternates have been seated for the trial of former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd.
Floyd, who was Black, died last year after Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck while Floyd was handcuffed and pleading that he couldn’t breathe.
Chauvin is charged with unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd’s May 25 death. Floyd’s death sparked protests and civil unrest in Minneapolis and across the U.S. over police brutality, at points turning violent.
Closing arguments are set to begin Monday with jury deliberations expected to begin sometime later that day.
Chauvin’s fate will be decided by the 12 Hennepin County residents, whose names will be kept confidential until further court order. Two alternate jurors were selected to listen to testimony, but will not be part of deliberations unless needed. A third alternate was sent home before opening statements last week. NewsNation will provide live coverage of the trial online and the NewsNation Now app.
Jury selection concluded after more than two weeks of questioning by attorneys on both sides and Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill. Details about jurors are kept sparse for security reasons.
Here are the details we know about the jurors including the alternates:
- No. 2: White male, 20s
- No. 9: Multi/mixed-race woman; 20s
- No. 19: White male; 30s
- No. 27: Black male; 30s
- No. 44: White woman; 50s
- No. 52: Black male; 30s
- No. 55: White woman; 50s
- No. 79: Black male; 40s
- No. 85: Multi/mixed-race woman; 40s
- No. 89: White woman; 50s
- No. 91: Black woman; 60s
- No. 92: White woman; 40s
- No. 96: White woman; 50s
- No. 118: White woman; 20s
- No. 131: White man; 20s
The jury, including three alternates, is made up of six white women, three white men, three Black men, one Black woman and two multiracial women, according to court records. All are U.S. citizens and residents of Hennepin County.
The jurors were sent detailed 16-page questionnaires to determine how much they have heard about the case and whether they’ve formed any opinions. Besides biographical and demographic information, jurors were asked about prior contacts with police, whether they have protested against police brutality and whether they believe the justice system is fair.
A high fence with barbed wire and concrete barriers installed around the courthouse for the trial are daily reminders of security concerns. Numerous people expressed unease about serving on the panel for Chauvin’s trial during the more than two weeks of jury selection. At least one who became teary-eyed was excused, as were others who were visibly unnerved.
Others displayed no such apprehension. A Black man in his 30s who was ultimately put on the jury wrote on a questionnaire that the Chauvin trial was the biggest case of his lifetime. And he added: “I would love to be a part of it.”
Three other former officers face an August trial on charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter.