Chauvin Jurors Facing ‘Through the Roof’ Stress As Deliberations Begin
As the 12 Minneapolis jurors in the Derek Chauvin murder trial prepare to hunker down and begin deliberations, the world awaits what will be a decision with a lasting impact on U.S. race relations, policing – and on the…
As the 12 Minneapolis jurors in the Derek Chauvin murder trial prepare to hunker down and begin deliberations, the world awaits what will be a decision with a lasting impact on U.S. race relations, policing – and on the jurors themselves.
“Any high-profile case with a lot of media attention is going to be a little more stressful,” said Roy Futterman, a trial consultant with the firm DOAR. “This one is through the roof.”
The jurors must determine whether former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, is guilty of murder and manslaughter in the death of Floyd, a Black man. Video of Chauvin pinning a handcuffed Floyd to the ground by kneeling on his neck for more than nine minutes ignited global protests against police brutality.
Jurors often feel anxiety, change in sleep and appetite, headaches, loss of concentration and guilt, according to a pamphlet that Minnesota provides to jurors. It recommends breathing exercises, cutting down on alcohol and seeing whether fellow jurors want to stay in touch to discuss the experience.
The Chauvin trial, much of which has been broadcast live by national news networks, promises to compound those feelings. Jurors will be sequestered in a hotel during deliberations and are already dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and protests against police brutality and racial injustice.
“What they decide will be heard around the world,” said Melissa Gomez of MMG Jury Consulting.
The magnitude of the case and possibility that a not guilty verdict could trigger renewed civil unrest is evident in downtown Minneapolis, where the tower in which the courtroom sits is ringed by barbed wire and watched over by some of the 3,000 troops activated by the state’s National Guard.
During questioning by lawyers from both sides, several potential jurors noted the besieged appearance of the city. Nearby businesses have boarded up their windows. Demonstrations on the street outside can be heard in the courtroom.
On the third day of the trial, one juror told the judge she was struggling with stress and lack of sleep. “I’ve been awake since 2 a.m.,” she said.