THE VERDICT IS IN. We will cover live
Chauvin sentencing in 8 weeks.
FYI, state has filed Blakely motion for aggravated sentencing, above and beyond guidelines, arguments for that will be heard over next couple of weeks.
Chauvin could have had jury make call on aggravation factors, waived that right, Cahill will make that call.
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GUILTY ALL COUNTS
Count 1. 2nd degree felony murder: GUILTY
Count 2. 3rd degree murder: GUILTY
Count 3. 2nd degree manslaughter: GUILTY
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Cahill unseals verdict, flips through pages. Will read.
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Judge Cahill is seated in courtroom, parties, rising for jury.
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While we wait, DON’T CLOSE THIS WINDOW!, but might want to open up a second browser window, check out post I’d started today before imminent verdict announced:
Chauvin Trial: The Big Lie of the 3-Minute-Plus “Restraint While Pulseless”
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One thing for certain, jury unanimous on whatever decision.
If they had deadlocked on anything, would have informed, judge, judge would have read them whatever Minnesota calls an “Allen Charge” to go back and try harder, and that would have been done publicly in courtroom, and we’d know. That didn’t happen, so no deadlock on any charge.
Either guilty, or not guilty, period, nothing in between.
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Tick-tock, tick-tock …
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Minnesota sentencing guidelines are outside my expertise, but talking heads are saying the recommended sentences for someone with no priors, like Chauvin, would be as follows:
2nd-degree “felony” murder: Recommended 10.5 years (max 40)
3rd-degree “reckless” murder: Recommended 10.5 years (max 25)
2nd-degree manslaughter: Recommended 4 years (max 10) and/or $20k fine
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Chauvin and Nelson reported present at courthouse.
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RE: sentencing, prosecution has notified court earlier that they intend to pursue aggravated sentencing, although I don’t know the details on that. Chauvin had right to have a jury decide on aggravation, or waive that right and have Judge Cahill decide on aggravation, and he opted to waive and have judge decide, assuming there was a guilty verdict at all.
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Very surprised no questions from jury at all, even on causation, suggests didn’t really consider the legal merits.
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Three counts for jury to have considered:
2nd-degree “felony” murder: Max of 40 years
3rd-degree “reckless” murder: Max of 25 years
2nd-degree manslaughter: Max of 10 years and/or $20k fine
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Attorney Andrew Branca here, folks, just waiting for details.
Informed guess given how rapidly the jury has arrived at a verdict is that it will guilty on multiple, or all, counts.
FYI, we’ll be updating info by typing it at top of post, like this, then updating the whole page, so you’ll need to refresh the page on your end to see new content.
3:15 p.m. Tuesday (/WAJ)
Expecting verdict to be read between 4-5 p.m. Eastern
EARLIER COVERAGE:
This is a “group” post in which primarily Andrew Branca and Prof. Jacobson will post updates as we await a verdict, but other authors may jump in depending who is available when news breaks, including if the jury has questions or there are other court proceedings.
The author of the update will use his/her initials, and the updates will be posted in reverse chronological order, with the most recent at top. (/WAJ)
They are boarding up businesses in … San Francisco … for the “mostly peaceful” protests.
Tuesday 2:50 p.m. (/WAJ)
Ilan Omar has an opinion.
Tuesday 12:30 p.m. (/WAJ)
Tuesday 10:55 a.m. This image tells you everything you need to know about the atmosphere for the trial. (Via this YouTube channel broadcasting live today). (/WAJ)
Tuesday 9:15 a.m. This CBS News report from yesterday is generating a lot of controversy, coming close to doxxing a juror. This is part of the problem of the jurors knowing they will be outed and targeted if there is a not-guilty verdict. (/WAJ)
Tuesday 8:45 a.m. – Jury concluded deliberations at 8 p.m. (Central) last night, return this morning. Minneapolis is boarding up and the Governor has called for more National Guard to be ready. (/WAJ)
[Featured image is a screen capture from video of today’s court proceedings in MN v. Chauvin.]
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