BREAKING: Major Headway Happening With Derek Chauvin’s Trial For George Floyd’s Death — Trial To Begin Only One Day Later Than Planned

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The Chauvin trial is expected to begin Tuesday, according to Fox News.

Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd.

Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill sent a group of potential jurors home Monday and postponed the trial.

State prosecutors filed for a postponement until Minnesota Supreme Court makes a decision on whether or not to reinstate a charge of third-degree murder.

The second-degree murder charge requires prosecutors to prove that Chauvin’s conduct was a “substantial causal factor” in Floyd’s death, and that Chauvin was committing felony assault at the time. The third-degree murder charge would require them to prove that Chauvin caused Floyd’s death through a dangerous act without regard for human life, Fox News reports.

“Unless the Court of Appeals tells me otherwise, we’re going to keep moving,” Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill said Monday.

The Court of Appeals ordered Cahill to consider reinstating a third-degree murder charge that he had dismissed.

Chauvin’s attorney, Eric Nelson said he would file a petition with the state Supreme Court to review the issue.

“We’re prepared to try this case,” Nelson said. “It is not our intent to cause delay. However, I feel I have an ethical obligation to my client.”

“The State is fully ready to go to trial, but the trial must be conducted in accordance with the rules and the law,” state Attorney General Keith Ellison said. “Now that Mr. Chauvin has stated his intention to appeal Friday’s Court of Appeals ruling to the Minnesota Supreme Court, as is his right, the district court does not have jurisdiction to conduct jury selection or hear and rule on other substantive matters in the trial. We have filed motion with the Court of Appeals to ensure that justice is pursued properly.”

People gathered outside the courthouse carrying signs that read, “Justice for George Floyd” and “Convict Killer Cops.”

From Fox News:

One speaker, D.J. Hooker, took a microphone and decried the “cage” of concrete barriers topped by chain-link fencing, barbed wire and razor wire up around the courthouse, part of at least $1 million that has been spent to fortify the downtown area during the trial.

Jury selection could take at least three weeks and will end when 14 jurors are picked — 12 who will deliberate and two alternates. The potential jurors — who must be at least 18, U.S. citizens and residents of Hennepin County — were sent questionnaires to determine how much they have heard about the case and whether they’ve formed any opinions.

Besides biographical and demographic information, jurors were asked about prior contacts with police, whether they have protested against police brutality and whether they believe the justice system is fair.

Some of the questions get specific, such as how often a potential juror has watched the bystander video of Floyd’s arrest, or whether they carried a sign at a protest and what that sign said.

Jurors will be questioned individually. The judge, defense attorney and prosecutors can all ask questions. In addition to both sides being able to argue for an unlimited number of “for cause” dismissals, the defense can object to up to 15 potential jurors without giving a reason; prosecutors can block up to nine without providing a reason. Either side can object to these peremptory challenges if they believe the sole reason for disqualifying a juror is race or gender.