Judge refuses to delay Chauvin trial, jury selection nears end

Judge says delay would not stop publicity surrounding landmark case, only two jurors remain to be seated.

A judge on Friday denied a defence request to delay or move the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer charged in George Floyd’s death after the announcement of a $27m settlement for Floyd’s family raised concern about a tainted jury as jury selection neared its end. Eric Nelson, the lead lawyer for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, has complained to the court that publicity around the trial has tainted the jury pool in and around Minneapolis, citing in particular the settlement to their wrongful death civil lawsuit. Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill, who has called the timing “unfortunate”, said he thought a delay would do nothing to stem the problem of pretrial publicity. As for moving the trial, he said there is no place in Minnesota that has not been touched by that publicity.