Jury chosen for Derek Chauvin’s murder trial. Here’s what we know about them
After two weeks of jury selection, the panel that will decide the fate of ex-Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin over the in-custody death of George Floyd has been seated.
The final juror to join the group of 12 members and three alternates was seated Tuesday after dozens of potential jurors were grilled about their views on the case and the criminal justice system as well as their ability to remain impartial.
The group will return to the Minneapolis courthouse March 29 for the first day of opening arguments in the high-profile murder trial. The 15th juror was added as an extra alternate and is expected to be dismissed by Monday unless one of the first 14 panelists is forced to leave for some reason.
All jurors will remain anonymous until Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill decides it’s safe to release their names, which could happen days or weeks after the verdict. Answers they gave in court and on their jury questionnaire offer a glimpse of the group, however.
The nine women and six men are somewhat diverse, with nine identifying themselves as white, four as Black and two as multiracial. The youngest are in their 20s and the oldest is in her 60s.
Here is what we else the public knows about each juror:
Juror #2: The first person to be seated for the trial, this juror is a white man in his 20s, works as a chemist and claims he hasn’t seen the viral bystander video of Floyd’s in-custody death. He said he supports Black Lives Matter as a movement and believes “every life should matter equally.”
Juror #9: The first woman to join the panel is in her 20s and was described as multiracial. She is related to a Minnesota police officer and said she was “super excited” to be called for jury duty. She wrote on her jury questionnaire that she has a “somewhat negative” view of Chauvin but told the court she can put those feelings aside and be impartial.
Juror #19: The third juror is a white man in his 30s who works as a financial auditor. He said he has a “somewhat negative” view of Chauvin but will keep an open mind during trial.
Juror #27: The first Black man to join the panel is an immigrant who’s in his 30s and works in IT management. He told the court Black lives are “marginalized” and that he does not support defunding the police, noting that officers in his community make him feel safe.
Juror #44: The second woman to be seated is white and in her 50s. She works for a nonprofit organization and said she believes systemic racism is a problem in the U.S. criminal justice system and that people are treated differently depending on their race.
Juror #52: Described by the court as a Black man in his 30s, this juror works in banking and coaches youth sports. He said he has a “neutral” view of Chauvin and supports Black Lives Matter. He also noted he has personally witnessed Minneapolis police use excessive force and described the trial as the “most important case” in his lifetime.
RELATED: Judge denies Derek Chauvin’s request to move or delay trial in George Floyd murder case
Juror #55: A white woman in her 50s, this juror is a single parent, works in health care and rides a motorcycle. She told the court during questioning that she trusts the police and believes “all lives matter.”
Juror #79: The third Black man on the panel is an immigrant who’s in his 40s and works as a manager. He said on his jury questionnaire he has a neutral opinion of Chauvin and a “somewhat favorable” view of Floyd. He also said he “strongly disagrees” with efforts to defund the police.
Juror #85: A multiracial woman in her 40s, this jury is a wife and a mother who works as a management consultant. She told the court she has a neutral opinion of both Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter and does not know whether Chauvin caused Floyd’s death.
Juror #89: Described as a white woman in her 50s, this juror works as a registered nurse and has treated patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms. She said she believes discrimination against minorities is worse than portrayed by the media and disagrees with defunding the police.
Juror #91: The oldest member of the panel is a retired grandmother who is Black and in her 60s, according to the court. She said she knows a Minneapolis police officer but believes she can be impartial. She also said she has a favorable opinion of Black Lives Matter and a neutral view of Chauvin.
Juror #92: A white woman in her 40s, this juror works in the insurance industry and has a degree in communications. She has a “very favorable” view of Blue Lives Matter and said calls to defund police departments “terrify” her. She also said she believes minorities face discrimination in the criminal justice system and has friends who have been treated differently because of their race.
Juror #96: The eighth woman added to the jury is white and in her 50s. She said she is a dog lover who hopes to get more involved in issues related to homelessness and affordable housing. She works for a Minneapolis business that was damaged during the clashes with police in the aftermath of Floyd’s death last year but said she could remain impartial.
Juror #118: A social worker in her 20s became the sixth white woman seated on the panel. The newly married juror indicated in her written questionnaire that she strongly disagrees with defunding the police and has neutral views of both Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter.
Juror #131: The backup alternate added to the jury Tuesday is a white man in his 20s who works as an accountant. He said he strongly disagrees with defunding the police and believes the message from the Black Lives Matter movement “gets lost” when protests turn into riots and looting.
