George Floyd – Derek Chauvin Trial Tag

Key issues raised in oral argument were a juror who allegedly lied about attending a George Floyd protest, and the fortress courthouse atmosphere because of threats of rioting if there were a not guilty verdict....

The trial took place in a fortress courthouse with violence and threats of violence swirling around the entire proceeding. A fair trial free from threats is particularly important for defendants reviled by the public. That's were society is tested. Society failed the test here....

Sentenced to 245 months (20.4 years) plus 5 years supervised release, to run concurrently with state sentence of 22 years. So the pending state appeal asserting Chauvin was denied a fair trial will not matter. Chauvin will spend almost another 20 years in prison....

It's all extremely detailed with evidence images and testimony. And none of it is likely to make a difference....

Could extend his prison time by several years beyond the state sentence, and might allow him to serve time in federal prison....

Prosecution seeks 30 years....

Along with attempts to take the medical license of Chauvin's Forensic Pathology expert, the post-trial assault on witnesses will have a chilling impact on the ability of the three other officers charged to find experts willing to testify....

Chauvin now faces up to double the sentencing guideline of 15 years, for up to 30 years....

Chauvin had two experts who testified -- one (Barry Brodd) had his house targeted and the other (Dr. David Fowler) his professional license attacked. This will make it difficult if not impossible for the three other officers awaiting trial to hire expert witnesses....

The three-count indictment names Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao. Chauvin was charged in a separate indictment unrelated to Floyd, for the arrest and restraint of a suspect in 2017....

"jury committed misconduct, felt threatened or intimidated, felt race based pressure during the proceedings, and/or failed to adhere to instructions during deliberations, in violation of Mr. Chauvin’s constitutional rights to due process and a fair trial."...

Juror No. 52, Brandon Mitchell, answered "no" to two questions in the juror questionnaire that asked about participation in demonstrations....

"If Chauvin were found not guilty on all counts or the case ended in a mistrial, they would arrest him at the courthouse"...

Dr. David Fowler was an effective witness for Chauvin, and now Maryland will review his work as the state's Chief Medical Examiner looking for errors, as an open letter signed by fornensic colleagues call for his medical license to be investigated....