# Minnesota trial of Derek Chauvin (killer of George Floyd) reactions **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 30, 2021, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024 "2021-03-30T13:14:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 35
**Author:** ![LivingGhost371](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@LivingGhost371](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LivingGhost371)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/681 "2021-04-21T01:08:02Z")
Which is exactly what happened in the immediate aftermath following the incident. So there is a track record. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/682 "2021-04-21T01:31:15Z")
Really interested to see how this verdict might effect the trials for the other three. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/683 "2021-04-21T02:01:08Z")
The only time I served on a jury, it was for a murder trial (in Minnesota if it matters). As I recall the judge’s statements about premeditation that if the offender had paused, or had a chance to pause, and then continued, it’s premeditated (as @nelliebly stated). It doesn’t have to start before the action, or the day before, but can occur during the offence. I was an alternate juror, so I didn’t go to the deliberation room (and the jury was sequestered). The evidence was very strong for a guilty verdict, and talking with the rest of the jurors afterwards (the next day we all went out for drinks to unwind) the decision was made pretty much immediately. However, it took until noon the next day, or several hours, for the paperwork to be completed correctly. I attended that trial’s sentencing, and even though I wasn’t an active juror, I found myself letting out a huge sigh and an unsuspected sob on my drive home. It’s an emotional experience, and I had pretty much the same emotions after hearing today’s verdicts. I hope the Chauvin jurors can handle the post-jury stress. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/684 "2021-04-21T02:02:30Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > I am curious to know what Chauvin had written on his hand. “Do not use F-Word” “Do not use N-Word” “Do not refer to police chief as F’in’ N-Word” ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/685 "2021-04-21T02:14:49Z")
I hope someone is making sure those jurors are protected. They were very courageous, when you consider that they must continue to live in the area where at least some of the police tasked with protecting them as members of the public may feel less inclined as a result of their verdict. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/686 "2021-04-21T02:33:13Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The system is Ok. The issue is that there are too many _individuals_ who are assholes, jerks and racists Ask any black person in this country if they agree with this. 99.999% will say that you are dead fucking wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/687 "2021-04-21T02:46:53Z")
Because of racist, asshole individuals. If said racist asshole individuals were not racist assholes, I don’t see how the system _itself_ would be the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/688 "2021-04-21T02:47:16Z")
Yup. Reminds me of something I was [talking with](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-while-black-in-america/817611/1899) poster split\_p\_j about a few months ago: > [@Kimstu](#): > > Systemic racism is constantly deluging us with the messages “this is normal, this was an isolated incident, the individual victim should have behaved differently, few bad apples”, and so on and so forth. We are always being told, on multiple different levels, that denying the problem means that we’re actually overcoming the problem, putting it behind us, getting closer to the goal of colorblindness. And that recognizing the problem, on the other hand, is actually creating the problem, conjuring up racism where none really existed. > > That’s why so many people who’ve internalized the messages get so angry on hearing that systemic racism is still a problem. They think that they’re the ones actually moving forward, and the “woke” people are trying to hold them back. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/689 "2021-04-21T02:57:44Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > [https://www.foxbangor.com/tmz/derek-chauvin-wrote-lawyers-phone-number-on-hand/](https://www.foxbangor.com/tmz/derek-chauvin-wrote-lawyers-phone-number-on-hand/) Things go full circle. In the height of the protests in Portland last summer, I and many others had the phone number for legal aid written on our arms in case we were black-bagged. It’s nice to see him reduced to the same. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/690 "2021-04-21T03:12:30Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > We have to hope that this development continues. Instead of a Blue Wall, some law enforcement people seem to have started thinking in terms of ‘good cops policing their own’ and ‘getting rid of bad cops helps us.’ > > If they all start thinking that way, there will be fewer cases of abuse of police power. I definitely agree it’s a good thing in this case. It seems like the main reason they were willing to is that they were under a lot of pressure with both the lawsuit and public opinion to distance themselves from Chauvin - the prosecutor at one point said “the police are not on trial” but basically either Chauvin as an individual killed George Floyd or the police as an institution did. I assume a lot of people would still think both did. Unfortunately I think this might be the start of some very gradual change, but I think it will be a while before this is a trend. Chauvin’s actions were so egregious and had such a backlash that the prosecution had to be as thorough as they were, and his fellow police officers felt they couldn’t protect him. We’ll see if anything short of this causes the same level of accountability, but I don’t think the justice system is going to change all that much very quickly unfortunately. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/691 "2021-04-21T04:24:45Z")
I strongly disagree. The system allowed Chauvin to continue as a police officer despite numerous violations. It is very rare that police are convicted of wrong doing even when it is obvious (see Brionna Taylor). The police protect themselves and their unions are too strong. Think about all the evidence against Chauvin and we still weren’t sure there would be a conviction. The system has a lot of problems. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/692 "2021-04-21T05:26:17Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Wow! I don’t think cops have changed much in the last decade or two, but maybe juries have. I don’t think it’s a change in jurors so much as a change in evidence. Used to be that jurors would want to believe a cop, and it would take an awful lot of testimony from witnesses to shake that faith in cops. Steve Jobs changed all that. Everybody’s got a video camera, with audio, in their pocket now. It’s no longer “the witness says the cop assaulted the deceased”. Now it’s “Members of the jury, we ask you to watch this video of the cop assaulting the deceased, and listen to the deceased gasping for breath.” Thanks, Mr. Jobs. You done good. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/693 "2021-04-21T05:37:40Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I don’t get how it works if you’re convicted of three different counts of killing the same person. Would be different here in Canada. He’d be sentenced for the most serious crime only, and the other two would be stayed. (If the more serious were set aside on appeal, still could have the other two reactivated.) ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/694 "2021-04-21T05:44:47Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I’m pretty sure he was thinking “die, fucker, die”. I’m pretty sure he wasn’t but I can’t say for sure. I offer my regrets–I’ll not be able to attend today’s Two-Minute Hate due to an unexpected attack of human compassion. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/695 "2021-04-21T06:08:31Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > But the way law works - if a person dies while you are committing felony assault, its 2nd degree murder. Is that when you are committing felony assault in particular or any felony at all? ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/696 "2021-04-21T08:01:45Z")
I’ve been lurking on a right-wing board this evening. Many there are expressing disappointment that “liberal Democrat cities” are not rioting. After all, celebrating a guilty verdict in the streets should descend into rioting, where “those animals” can loot “free stuff,” especially after dark. More than a few posters there have stated that “ **BLM** ” means “ **B** urn, **L** oot, and **M** ayhem.” To them, “rule of law” is not a legal philosophy that addresses arbitrariness in legislating; but a permission for cops to bust heads, teargas protestors, and, as in the case of George Floyd, kill people because … well, just because they’re troublesome. Migosh. I’ve known many Americans in my life (heck, I was married to one), and I’ve never heard such sentiments from any of them. Americans, please tell me that the people expressing these views are a minority. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/697 "2021-04-21T08:16:27Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Migosh. I’ve known many Americans in my life (heck, I was married to one), and I’ve never heard such sentiments from any of them. Americans, please tell me that the people expressing these views are a minority. A minority, perhaps, but just barely. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/698 "2021-04-21T08:17:07Z")
A minority insofar as they were _not quite_ able to win the 2020 presidential election. So, sure. A minority. But only by a little. ETA: jinx. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/699 "2021-04-21T11:04:31Z")
My siblings chat group “no politics allowed” is pretty much awash with lamentation that “the terrorists have won” and the police should stop patrolling “those” neighborhoods and responding to calls from there. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/700 "2021-04-21T11:59:01Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > I’m pretty sure he wasn’t but I can’t say for sure. So what do you think he was thinking? He held Floyd down for a long time, as Floyd gasped for breath and a crowd of witnesses begged him to stop. I honestly think he was thinking “let’s just make sure this guy is dead”. Of course, i can’t know that. But it’s hard for me to imagine any other frame of thought that leads to that action. > [@squeegee](#): > > He couldn’t just memorize his lawyer’s phone number? 10 digits? I couldn’t. Copying his lawyer’s phone number onto his body seems eminently reasonable of him, imo. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024.md?page=34) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024.md?page=36)