Derek Chauvin prosecutors request Minnesota decide not to launch names of jurors amid harassment concerns

Prosecutors requested a judge Monday to reject a request by a coalition of media retailers to unseal the names of the jurors who convicted ex-Minneapolis law enforcement Officer Derek Chauvin of murder in the death of George Floyd, indicating it could topic them to harassment and make it tougher to seat a jury for the trial of three codefendants following 12 months.

Decide Peter Cahill had ordered before that the jurors’ identities be kept top secret for at minimum 180 days after the verdict. Which is a few months absent. Chauvin, who is white, was convicted in April of killing Floyd, a Black male, and was sentenced to 22 1/2 yrs in jail.

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The media coalition, which incorporates The Associated Push, requested Cahill earlier this month to release the information and facts straight away, indicating there was no known menace to juror protection that would warrant retaining their names sealed. Attorney Leita Walker explained the media and general public have a suitable to data about a jury, and that anonymous juries are exceptional and only authorized in outstanding instances, these kinds of as in instances involving gangs or structured criminal offense.

But lead prosecutor Matthew Frank argued in a reaction Monday that courts have enough authority to maintain juror anonymity from the “considerable likelihood of harassment.” He pointed out that Cahill, in before orders, designed distinct and in depth results that jurors in the Chauvin case could be matter to harassment or intimidation if their names became community as well shortly. And he mentioned the media coalition is downplaying the challenges.

“Because of this case’s global profile, the likely resources of harassment are diffuse and span the globe,” Frank wrote. “When this Court releases juror substance, that product will promptly seem in each corner of the web, including on social media and darker corners of the internet. Nefarious actors may well exploit that information and facts, harassing jurors in person or on the net.”

Two Chauvin jurors and just one alternate have recognized by themselves and appear forward to explain to their tales because the trial, whilst the remaining 10 jurors and a person alternate have not.

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The media coalition this month also elevated similar concerns about the final decision by a various judge to maintain jurors’ names sealed in the manslaughter demo in November of previous Brooklyn Heart Officer Kim Potter. Potter, who is white, fatally shot Daunte Wright, a 20-12 months-outdated Black motorist, on April 11.