Comments on: Legal Insurrection: the Chauvin trial

By: AesopFan

AesopFan — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 08:10:00 +0000

“What’s getting lost here is that this trial is about judging Derek Chauvin, not George Floyd.” – Roy

Good point.
But, in cases like this, they become inextricably mixed, as in the popular-trial, as opposed to the court-trial, of Zimmerman vs Martin.

By: Roy Nathanson

Roy Nathanson — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 11:57:09 +0000

“in our legal system the basic general premise is that we judge the act, not the character of the person” – Neo

What’s getting lost here is that this trial is about judging Derek Chauvin, not George Floyd.

By: Skippo

Skippo — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 23:52:42 +0000

No matter what happens, Minneapolis is going to burn.

I heard today that there was dissatisfaction with the racial and gender makeup of the jury and maybe that would be enough to trigger pyrotechnics that extend into downtown and the suburbs. I think the mob is just looking for an excuse.

By: Homeric

Homeric — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 19:23:39 +0000

“No, if they throw Chauvin to the wolves, it probably won’t burn.”

I disagree. A conviction will provide further confirmation, in their minds, that this is a racist city with racist police and deserves to be looted and burned.

I hope I’m wrong, but I think the city is going to burn no matter what the verdict.

By: dnaxy

dnaxy — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 18:28:46 +0000

from the NLM:

Opiods can depress breathing depth and rate, blunt respiratory responsiveness to CO2 and hypoxia, increase upper airway resistance and reduce pulmonary compliance.

The proximate cause theory can be tried here:

1. If, but for Chauvin’s knee on Floyd’s neck for several minutes, the death would not have occurred.

2. Given Floyd’s physiologic condition, a knee on his neck for several minutes would predict his death.

I think the proximate cause algorithm fails with sentence #1.

By: J.J.

J.J. — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 18:14:51 +0000

This trial is looking like a disaster in the making. Demonstrators in the streets, potential jurors who saw the video and have made up their minds, along with those afraid to serve because of the mob. A judge that seems to lean in the prosecutor’s direction and a media that wants a scalp.

If ever there was a time for a leader to stand up, it’s now. The Mayor or the Governor should be making it clear that they will brook no violence and no threats against the judge, jurors, or Chauvin. And then back it up. I doubt we will see any such leadership. It will be a travesty, choreographed by the threat of mob violence. The promise of equal justice is now a cruel joke. Mob violence triumphs.

By: neo

neo — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 17:53:52 +0000

OBloodyHell:

I don’t think you understand what I mean by “relevant.” I mean it in the legal sense. Of course it’s relevant in human terms or story terms. But not necessarily legally relevant, as I’ve already explained.

Our legal system traditionally has very good reason to not drag in extraneous facts and to limit judgment to the actual situation at hand.

By: geoff+b

geoff+b — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 15:02:45 +0000

“Andrew McCarthy disgraced himself” …. again, it’s SOP for him anymore.

By: AppleBetty

AppleBetty — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 14:42:43 +0000

Reading OhBloodyHell’s comment above,
I’m reminded of something mothers say:

Don’t go to stupid places.
Don’t go at stupid times.
Don’t go with stupid people.
Don’t do stupid things.

By: LeClerc

LeClerc — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 14:30:29 +0000

Anything less than Chauvin’s exoneration is a de facto lynching.

Andrew McCarthy disgraced himself by indicating manslaughter is the appropriate verdict.