Favorability of Black Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter Central in Jury Screening for Trial in Floyd’s Death

Attorneys are selecting jurors who support the Black Lives Matter movement for George Floyd’s murder trial.

What We Know:

• During the process of picking jurors, lawyers have favored two questions on the questionnaire; these ask for the jurymen’s views on the Black Lives Matter, and Blue Lives Matter movements. The inquiries have helped the attorneys analyze peoples’ stances on topics like defunding the Minneapolis Police Department, if they see a bias against minorities in the criminal justice system, and how they feel about the media coverage. Asking these will determine if a juror will be valuable to either side of the case.
• The prosecution has recently restricted peers who would be swayed by a law enforcement officer’s testimony and give them the benefit of the doubt. They also denied people who don’t buy the Black Lives Matter campaign. On Tuesday, a lawyer dismissed a man with neutral views on the Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter parties.

 “I think you tend to trust an officer more than just somebody in the general public,” is what they said to the man in return.

• The defense has impacted people who either are wary of police officers or are convinced that Derek Chauvin is guilty. One man said he supports Black Lives Matter but could be impartial. He also stated that the community needs cops for safety.
• Former Miami Federal prosecutor David Weinstein claims these types of questions are common in the courtroom. He declares that the issues they are investigating are no different from those seen when an officer is a defendant. Weinstein believes that the prosecution is looking for someone who believes police officers have a duty and shouldn’t be violent when carrying it out. Those that do utilize force should then be punished for their actions.
• Race is a secondary topic in the selection. Prosecutors are looking for people who are aware of systemic racism and police brutality. The defense, however, wants people who see the issues as exaggerated. According to former chief public defender Mary Moriarty, having people of color is important to the case. It will give a new perspective of lived experiences. Currently, the nine jurors chosen include three White men, two Black men, one Hispanic man, two white women, and one multiracial woman.
• Moriarty also emphasized there will be no impartiality in the trial. He told NBC News this would be especially true because a high percentage of the global population has seen the video of Floyd’s arrest. In addition, Moriarty acknowledges that an attorney’s goal is not to get an unbiased jury.

“You’re looking for jurors who are favorable to your theory of the case. You’re not looking for blank slates walking in here,” she said.

• Both Moriarty and Weinstein agree that it would be nonsensical to associate an unprejudiced juror with someone who has no information about the case. They also say people will have made an opinion before admission onto the jury.

The trial will begin on March 29 and proceed for a month. As the trial is an upcoming story, Black News Alert will be investigating it and covering it on the website soon.