Jack Rice Appears in the Wall Street Journal to Update the Chauvin Murder Trial

Read the Wall Street Journal article. During the first week of testimony in the Derek Chauvin murder trial, the prosecution spent their time introducing eye witnesses along with the video tapes to viscerally drive the jury to convict. By the end of that week and into the second week, they moved to senior Minneapolis police officers including Chief Arradondo to explain causation, use of force and to argue that the Minneapolis Police Department trains a certain way, has standards and has a different culture. Further, Derek Chauvin ignored those standards and that culture and as a result, George Floyd died.

This is all well and good but as a criminal defense attorney for many years and with direct knowledge of the Minneapolis Police Department, the MPD may say one thing but they frequently do quite another. The City resolved the Floyd civil case for $27 million. This was not long after resolving another for $20 million. There are lots of examples where they have had to pay out because they make huge mistakes. The number of complaints filed in Minneapolis because of police misconduct can’t be dismissed. Chauvin himself has had complaint after complaint filed against him. Was he ever fired for any one of them? For all of them collectively? Was he ever sanctioned in any way? And why is that? Its because the MPD is trying to fall back on that One Bad Apple approach again. Its not us, its him.

I appear in the Wall Street Journal to discuss use of force, police techniques, and how you try a case like this to a jury. Should be a lot of fun.

Jack Rice is the founder of Jack Rice Defense. He is a former prosecutor, and Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist and a Criminal Defense Attorney. If you are facing serious criminal charges, call Jack Rice Defense for a free consultation.

Read the Wall Street Journal article.