Jury Selection
3/9/21
Juror #1 - Dismissed
Female, hispanic with broken english.
Juror #2 - Selected
Male, caucasian, degree in Environmental Studies and Chemistry. He believes in he BLM movement, but not the BLM organization. He believes all lives matter equally. Says he has an analytical mind.
Juror #3 - Dismissed
Female, caucasian, has strong opinions on the case. She doesn’t think she could be fair and impartial.
Juror #4 - Dismissed
Male, hispanic, moved to MN from Southern Calf three years ago. Believes in self-defense. Has the ability to think for himself. Can stick to what he believes in without being pushed into something. Can re-evaluate a judgment based on facts. Has training in Brazilian jiu jitsu, Mauy Thai and Martial Arts. He has an opinion on the case and feels it could have been handled different. Feels there could have been a different outcome. GF fate was decided that day. Hasn’t formed an opinion on DC’s guilt. He needs more information and evidence to determine an opinion. The event had a negative impact on the community. Growing up in California he has seen officers use more force than needed. He thinks there are good cops and bad cops. No opinion on Minneapolis Police. Feels the system is flawed, sometimes the punishment doesn’t fit the crime.
Juror #5, #6 and #7 - Dismissed on 3/8 for cause
Juror #8 - Dismissed
Male, served in the Air National Guard, has a college degree, describes himself as kind, fair, family man and christian. Feels the case is serious and has concerns about his and his family’s safety if he is picked as a juror. Feels he has the ability to lay out the information given and would be able to work hard to come to a conclusion. Has an opinion that DC and officers used excessive force in this incident. Would be willing to base his opinion on all the evidence given in court to change his opinion. Since this incident he has friends that have moved out of downtown Minneapolis and he and his wife have no desire to go to downtown. Has watched the video multiple times and has formed a strong opinion of the video. Could re-evaluate his opinion base on information given in court. Feels the system treats all races equally. Has negative views on the BLM organization but believes in the BLM movement. Has strong and favorable opinions on Blue Lives Matter. Doesn’t think this case is based on BLM or Blue Lives Matter. Would donate to the George Floyd family for their loss. Would send money to police training or procedures if it would fix the problem. Believes LE jobs are dangerous. Doesn’t believe a jury should have the chance to second guess LE decisions while in the line of duty. He has trust in LE, but thinks mistakes can be made, especially when decisions need to be made in a split second.
Juror #9 - Selected
Female, type 1 diabetic, grew up in northern Minnesota, describes herself as go with the flow, open minding, can have a conversation with anyone and has the ability to respectfully disagree with others. She was excited to get summoned for jury duty and even more excited when she found out what case it was for. Feels a guilty verdict effects more than the defendant. Could make an impartial decision based on evidence in court. Hasn’t thought about her own personal safety if she was picked for this trial. She was shocked with all the people around the courthouse when she arrived. Her friends consider her the mediator of the group. Feels that she can get a good read if someone is lying by body language, mannerisms and character. Has a somewhat negative impression of DC from watching the video. Has seen and read negative comments about DC on social media and talked with friends and family about the case when it first happened. Feels there has been a positive outcome in the community by bringing awareness about racism. Has an uncle who is LE in Northern MN. She has not talked to this uncle about this case. She doesn’t have regular contact with her LE uncle - mostly on major holidays. Doesn’t feel that blacks and whites are treated equally in the judicial system. She likes the idea of BLM and Blue Lives Matter, but feels they have been turned into propaganda.
Juror #10 - Dismissed
Male, works in accounting field, busy time of year and is concerned about not being able to service his clients during the trial. Believes there is a lot riding on this case and if he was picked as a jury he is somewhat worried for his safety if the names of jurors were released when the trial is over.
Juror #11, #12, #13, #14, #15 and #16 - Dismissed on 3/8
Juror #17 - Dismissed
Male, 19 years old. Feels he could put everything he’s heard aside. Says the process is making him uncomfortable. He’s in trade school. Describes himself as a conceptual thinker and is open minded. He’s not sure he’s ready to deal with everything that will come from this trial. He’s formed personal opinions on this case and doesn’t feel he could be fair. He’s conflicted about this specific case. Doesn’t want to be involved with this case and doesn’t want anybody to know if he was a juror on this case. From what he knows the MPD has a history of corruption and has heard the MPD has a lot of bad cops. He’s intimidated by MPD. This is predicated on what he’s heard and because his dad was racially profiled by the MPD and he said his dad doesn’t break the law. He feels he could be fair and impartial, but he doesn’t know for sure. He’s willing to hear what all sides have to say.
Juror #18 - Dismissed on 3/8
Juror #19 - Selected
Male, describes himself as an honest, straight forward and easy to talk to. Was an alternate juror about five years ago. No concerns for himself or his family if he were to serve on this case. No concerns regarding Covid-19. He works in client service and is comfortable working through conflict within a group setting or as a team. Ability to listen to the evidence on both sides without bias. Familiar with the case and has not established an opinion without examining the facts. Knows the burden of proof is on the prosecution. View of DC is somewhat negative because no CPR was performed on GF. Was not actively following this case, but did have conversations with family, friends and co-workers regarding the case and how it effected the community. Feels he could be fair and impartial if he serves on this trial. Has a friend who is a MPD officer - more of a friend of a friend. See’s him a couple times a year. No concerns over his friendship if found guilty or not guilty. Supports BLM in a general sense, doesn’t support all actions within BLM. Unfavorable opinion on Blue Lives Matter. Has friends who are lawyers and won’t discuss this case with them during the trial. Heard in the media that GF had a checkered past with convictions and a domestic assault or disturbance. Feels he is able to put what he’s heard aside and wouldn’t let that interfere with the facts presented at trial.
@Niner