Legal Expert Says Settlement Could Taint Jury Pool

(KNSI) – Legal experts say the timing of a multimillion-dollar settlement with the George Floyd’s family and Minneapolis is highly unusual.

The $27 million deal was made public on Friday while jury selection is underway for Derek Chauvin, one of four former Minneapolis Police officers charged with Floyd’s death.

The civil case was filed separately and stood alone from the criminal case against Chauvin or the other officers.

Lawyer and St. Cloud State University Law Professor John Baker says usually civil cases are decided after the criminal case is finished.

“When I heard about this, I just scratched my head. As a former criminal defense attorney, I thought this has the potential to taint the jury. And it’s hard not to think that the city council had some intent to have some effect on the criminal trial.”

Baker told KNSI News why he thinks Minneapolis decided to settle when it did.

“I personally think that the city council settled the case as a way to start healing the community. I think that is their concern. That’s part of their job. Their job is not to prosecute the case. Their job is to take care of the City of Minneapolis.”

No matter what the reason is, Baker says the settlement sends the wrong message if you’re representing Chauvin.

“Obviously, it could have a dilatory effect on the defense. Because this is the city admitting that one of their police officers did wrong. It’s going to have an obvious negative effect on the defense.”

In the wake of the settlement announcement, Chauvin’s attorney, Eric Nelson, asked for a delay during Monday’s hearing and raised the possibility of renewing his previously unsuccessful motion to move the trial to another city.

Something Baker says is unlikely.

“I think this judge will not do a change of venue. I think he will continue it. Because you know, where are you going to go in the state of Minnesota, number one that’s going to have a diversity of Minneapolis? As the judge has previously said, what corner of the state has not heard about this case? What corner of the country has not heard about this case? What corner of the world has not heard about this case?”

He says he wouldn’t be surprised if the court granted a continuance to allow the defense time to reexamine the selected jurors or re-evaluate their case.

Judge Peter Cahill declined to grant an immediate delay but expressed concern.

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