Will the Jury be Compelled to Convict in the Chauvin Trial Because of What Could Happen in the Street if They Don’t?

Is a fair trial even possible in the Chauvin murder trial? As we think about this idea, one simple question comes to mind: If Chauvin is acquitted, will this city burn? I ask this only in the sense that a juror must be thinking about this and the pressure that comes to find a conviction. What happens if the State fails in its burden to prove Chauvin guilty? What happens if a witness screws up on the stand? What happens if something strange happens and the jury has no choice? These are hard questions that have no easy answers. Remember, will the city burn and how does that impact them? We all remember what happened after May 25th and we all no the potential if this case goes a different direction. There is a reason the city brought in 1100 police officers and 2000 National Guardsmen.

I appear on WVLY with an old friend Howard Monroe to talk about this big picture issue. It has nothing to do with the facts of this case but it has everything to do with the surroundings, the politics and the social drive of the case. Both the State and the Defense claimed that this is not a political question or a social movement question. I disagree. Both of these issues have the potential to have a significant impact upon this case.

Jack is the founder of Jack Rice Defense, a former prosecutor, a Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist, and a Criminal Defense Attorney. For a free consultation, contact Jack Rice Defense.