JUST SAYING:

         May 7, 2021

A federal grand jury on Friday indicted former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin and three other former officers on charges of violating George Floyd’s civil rights last year during the arrest that caused his death, a move that could offer another measure of accountability in a case that sparked nationwide protests over abusive policing.

Justice Department prosecutors said Chauvin, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao, who took part in apprehending Floyd, who was Black, will stand trial on two counts apiece. Former officer Thomas Lane will face a single charge in the case.

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JUST SAYING

BY RAUL HERNANDEZ

[email protected]

One reason the Justice Department’s decision to bring charges against these officers is because of two things: a juror failed to disclose his connections, no matter how remote, with Black Lives Matter and the judge presiding in Chauvin’s trial.
First of all, the juror is a moron who didn’t follow the court’s instructions.
Defense attorneys are now indicating that the juror’s nondisclosure was crucial in making sure that Chauvin received a fair trial.
In addition, the judge in the Chauvin trial, Peter Cahill, had already set the groundwork for appeal by making the following comments about Rep. Maxine Waters’ remarks.
“I’ll give you that Congresswoman Waters may have given you something on appeal that may result in this whole trial being overturned,” Judge Peter Cahill told defense attorney Eric Nelson.
Nelson isn’t stupid and picked up Cahill’s remark on the bench, and now, the juror who didn’t disclose his BLM connection is problematic for state prosecutors

.
The courts are laden with right-wing conservative state and federal judges, including at the appellate level and the U.S. Supreme Court, who could reverse Chauvin’s conviction due to jury misconduct.
So, the stage is set.
Judge Cahill might decide to give Chauvin a light sentence.
On appeal, Chauvin might win and have his conviction overturned.
In some states, a defendant who successfully appeals his case can also be set free on bond pending another trial.
Initially, Chauvin was free on bond. So, he could be out on bond, again, if the conviction is overturned.
U.S. Attorney Merrick Garland and the Justice Department officials understand the judicial climate in this country. Chauvin and the others get light sentences or win on appeal.
Federal prosecutors, however, can still prosecute these cases to the U.S. District Courts. No doubt that there is overwhelming evidence that Chauvin is a cold-blooded killer. But American Justice is becoming an oxymoron.
Apparently, the media hasn’t picked up any of this yet.