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Big Books & Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller
Kerri Miller and Marcheta Fornoff

A closer look at criminal cases against cops

Two men sit behind a desk.
Defense attorney Eric Nelson (left), defendant former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin (right) prepare for another witness on Wednesday.
Screenshot of Court TV video

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Witness testimony continues in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with murdering George Floyd.

Videos of Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck sparked protests across the globe, and the trial is also drawing a worldwide audience. It’s the first time that a trial in Minnesota is being broadcast live.

The case is also significant because it is rare for police officers to face criminal charges for on-duty actions.

The jury will consider second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter charges against Chauvin, but outside of the courtroom, some observers are viewing the verdict as a bellwether for racial equity and police accountability.

MPR News host Kerri Miller spoke with two experts about why these charges are rare, the burden of proof needed when they do go to trial and how juries view cases against police.

Guests:

  • Phil Stinson is a professor in Bowling Green State University’s Criminal Justice program and a former police officer.

  • Alexis Hoag is a lecturer at Columbia Law School, a former assistant federal public defender and a civil rights attorney.

To listen to the full conversation you can use the audio player above.

Subscribe to the MPR News with Kerri Miller podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS