Hennepin County Judge Releasing Chauvin Juror Names November 1st

(KNSI) — The names of 15 jurors and alternates who sat in the courtroom during the Derek Chauvin trial will become public next week.

Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill signed an order Monday to make the list public on November 1st. Also being made public will be the written questionnaires for all 109 potential jurors who were formally evaluated.

Cahill said the law presumes the names would be made public unless there was a strong reason not to release them. At this point, he says, there is no reason to believe the jurors are at any risk to their safety.

Some of the jurors have publicly identified themselves.

Chauvin was found guilty in April of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and manslaughter in connection to the May 2020 death of George Floyd. Chauvin was sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison.

Cahill had intended to keep the names under seal for six months after the verdict due to the high profile nature of the case, but a group of media outlets including at least one Twin Cities television station and The Associated Press asked the judge to release the juror names, citing the lack of any threats to their safety and saying the media and public have a right to know. Prosecutors had asked to keep the names secret to protect the jurors from any potential harassment. The prosecution also voiced concerns that making the list and information public would make it more difficult to seat a jury for the upcoming trial of the other three officers also charged in the case.

___

Note: KNSI is not a member of said media coalition.

___