Hinshaw's David S. Weinstein Discusses Impact of COVID-19 on Derek Chauvin Murder Trial with ABC News

Hinshaw attorney David S. Weinstein, a Miami-based partner and former federal prosecutor, was quoted extensively in an ABC News story about the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. The opening statements in the case are scheduled for Monday.

Weinstein said the case would be the "the likes of which none of us have seen before," adding that it was a case important "on so many levels to so many people from different segments of society." He also discussed the impact of COVID-19 on trial procedure, including whether two jury alternates will be enough to get through a long trial, and whether witnesses would be allowed to keep their face masks on while testifying. Finally, Weinstein said one of the most significant effects COVID will have on the trial is whether it will put a crimp on the camaraderie of the jury, especially during deliberations:

"A traditional jury is packed into a jury box, 12 people, two to four alternates, all right on top of each other, all becoming one large family unit as the case progresses. How is that going to occur in a pandemic when you're going to need to keep people socially distant from each other? That's going to play into the deliberations, that's going to play into how they're going to interact with each other, how willing they will be to listen to somebody else's opinion."

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"How COVID will make Derek Chauvin's trial in George Floyd's death look like no other"" was published by ABC News, March 24, 2020.