Thread by @UnicornRiotLive

Jury selection in Kim Potter's trial for killing #DaunteWright starts at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 30. We'll be providing live video feeds from the court to the streets throughout the trial (tech-permitting). Follow us here for live tweets & more. unicornriot.ninja/kim-potter-tri…

Court in the first day of the Kim Potter trial on charges of murdering #DaunteWright is getting underway now in Judge Regina Chu's court - watch with us here:

https://twitter.com/UR_Ninja/status/1465697217214238732?s=20

Our court stream is also available on YouTube:

& on Facebook: fb.watch/9B_awgWjIC/

Looks like Judge Chu is still waiting for jurors to come in, jury selection has not begun yet but today will be the first day of Voir Dire proceedings to screen potential jurors.

Kim Potter can be seen in a blue mark on the right between her two attorneys. MN state prosecution team from Keith Ellison's Attorney General office on the left

Judge Chu is says hello to potential jurors, tells them that Kim Potter is charged with first-degree manslaughter, predicated on the reckless use/handling of a firearm, and second-degree manslaughter in the shooting death of #DaunteWright on April 11, 2021 in Brooklyn Center, MN

Chu reminds jurors that Potter has pled not guilty and is guilty until proven innocent in the eyes of the law.

Judge Chu is telling jurors that a criminal complaint is not evidence of criminal guilt, a defendant should not be presumed guilty just because she is on trial. Defendant does not have to prove herself innocent - prosecutors must prove her guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

You can see the juror questionnaire here - potential jurors questioned in Voir Dire today will be asked about answers they filled out on this form after receiving a summons to jury duty: unicornriot.ninja/wp-content/upl…

Judge Chu just had the whole batch of potential jurors sworn in - she is now asking them general questions like if they have any health concerns and if they agree that they have to find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt with a presumption of innocence.

Judge Chu also has the jury agree to follow her instructions about the law and base their decisions on that.

Penalties and punishments for charges are not part of the jury's decision, Chu tells jurors - this is up to her. Jurors agree. Chu goes on to remind them that their verdict has to be based on law "not bias, passion, prejudice or sympathy."

Judge Chu says jurors should judge witnesses based on the guidelines she provides (believability, consistency, relationship to parties) and decide credibility of testimony from police officers "just as you would any other witness"

Judge Chu asks if any potential juror would believe a cop more just because they were police, no one raises their hand. She asks if anyone would discount a cop's testimony just for being a cop, no one raises their hand.

Judge Chu asks potential jurors if they know anyone on the list of potential witnesses - no hands are raised.

Opening statements expect to begin by December 8 in the Kim Potter trial and the trial is expected to end by Christmas Eve - Chu says the trial will be paused for Christmas eve and Christmas if the trial doesn't wrap up by then.

Trial will run 9 a.m. - 4:30-5 p.m. daily, lunch 12:30-1:30 (central time bc Minnesota)

Judge Chu excuses all potential jurors except panel member #2 - Voir Dire should start for real shortly

Juror #2 is taking the witness stand

Juror 2 said they felt they were generally neutral but Judge Chu is asking him about his jury questionnaire answer that he "didn't know why an officer would try to disable the driver of a moving vehicle".

Judge Chu asks Juror 2 if he can set aside any notions to decide this case fairly and impartially based only on the evidence, he says yes.

Chu asks Juror 2 about his jury questionnaire answer saying he found Blue Lives Matter 'unfavorable' - he says it's a "counter-cry against Black Lives Matter..."

Judge Chu has no more Qs for Juror 2 - defense will question him now. Earl Grey from the Kim Potter defense team is asking Qs now

Grey: is there anything since you signed this questionnaire that you would change or add to it?

Juror 2: no

*Gray asks Juror 2 if he can wait to hear the defense case after the prosecution to make up his mind, 2 agrees.

Earl Gray asks Juror 2 if he's discussed the video of Kim Potter shooting Daunte Wright - 2 says he has seen the video when it came out and had some brief discussions when the news first broke. Gray asks if juror 2 can set that aside, juror 2 agrees.

Gray asks Juror 2 about his answer on his jury questionnaire that he believed the criminal justice system produces better outcomes for people with more resources

Earl Gray from the Kim Potter defense team is done questioning potential juror 2.

Defense counsel is having a sidebar now amongst themselves

Matthew Frank from the MN AG prosecution team is questioning Juror 2 now - asks him about his job - 2 says he has worked as a medical editor in "evidence-based medicine" so is "familiar with the concept of taking a very subjective matter and trying to process that...objectively"

Frank: you indicated that you strongly agree that the police in your community keep you safe... you don't agree with defunding the police...

Juror 2: i believe there is a need for a change but 'defund the police'... sends an emotionally loaded message...

Frank: you can still be fair and impartial... without being influenced... by that opinion [about police]...?

Juror 2: yes

Frank from the state AG team passes juror 2 for cause- this means Juror 2 is now ON the jury panel for the Kim Potter trial.

Judge Chu is now questioning potential juror 4

Judge Chu asks potential juror 4 about her questionnaire answer where she said she felt her "community has been negatively impacted... by looting... and fires..."

4 says she lived in Brooklyn Center when Daunte Wright was killed and looting broke out.

Potential juror #4 no longer lives in Brooklyn Center.

Judge Chu asks if she could make her decision based on the law and not her opinions about demonstrations, she says yes.

Juror 4 didn't fill out her questionnaire answer asking her opinion about defunding the police - Judge Chu asks about this, 4 says she doesn't have an opinion.

4 said she "strongly agreed" with the questionnaire statement that it isn't proper to second guess police officers because they have "dangerous" jobs.

Chu asks her "do you believe that law enforcement should never be held accountable for what they do on duty?", 4 says they should be held accountable.

Kim Potter defense attorney Earl Gray is questioning juror 4 - he asks her about her answer on the questionnaire that she has a "negative" opinion towards Kim Potter but was "neutral" towards Daunte Wright and wrote "he was a father of a beautiful baby boy"

Gray asks Juror 4 more Qs about accountability for officers, and if she can actually be fair and impartial in the case when answering that she viewed Kim Potter unfavorably. Gray asks Judge Chu for a sidebar outside the presence of the juror - sidebar underway now

Juror 4 has been sent home by Judge Chu

Another juror being questioned now (court feed audio was cut off so we missed his number) - Chu has him agree he would decide this case based solely on the law and the evidence

This juror tells Judge Chu he has read a lot about this case but doesn't want to make excuses to get out of jury duty.

This juror wrote on his questionnaire that "our city is a mess because of these protests" and he "doesn't feel safe in the city of Minneapolis anymore." He tells Judge Chu this wouldn't influence his decision in this case.

His dad is also a former state & federal judge in Michigan and his cousin was a judge in Minnesota.

This juror was also on a jury for a civil case in 1996-97. Judge Chu explains that civil cases have a lower burden of proof (preponderance of the evidence) than criminal cases (proof beyond a reasonable doubt) and has him agree to apply the higher standard for this case.

Judge Chu passes Juror #5 to defense counsel for questioning - Paul Engh from Kim Potter defense is asking him about his questionnaire answer that he wants to set an example for his kids by doing his civic duty as a juror.

Engh asks Juror 5 about his "negative opinion about the riots that occurred after this incident" - 5 say "I'm a rule follower... I believe that you should respect private property... I follow the laws... what has been going on in this state is very frustrating..."

Juror 5: "there's things I read about that happens and I don't see anything happening to people, is very frustrating, I can't leave my car in my driveway with any valuables anymore because people are going through our neighborhood and taking stuff from our cars..."

Juror 5: "they don't think there will be any consequences... that's part of why I'm here today..."

Engh: you have a somewhat positive impression of Officer Potter according to your questionnaire?

5: I appreciate what officers do to protect our society... I work in construction and State Patrol helps keep us safe

Engh: I take it you don't support the defunding movement...?

5: correct

Engh: one of the interesting parts of your questionnaire is that you have pepper spray... tell us about that

5: it's just precautionary..with everything that's happening...

Engh: after the riots?

5: yeah... after seeing what happens when you use a gun...

5 says his family keeps pepper spray in their vehicles and home due to being afraid after protests

5 says he doesn't want to look at photographs of the scene of Wright's shooting and autopsy, says he would find it "disturbing" - Engh asks if he can see them anyway if obligated, he says "I don't want to" repeatedly when asked.

Engh: I don't think anybody wants to look at pictures of a body

5 agrees he would look at the photos if he had to

Engh: despite your opinions about things... you are able to do your civic duty here...be fair to everybody?

Juror 5: yes

Engh asks Judge Chu for a pause, Chu obliges

Kim Potter defense passes Juror #5

Matthew Frank from the prosecution is questioning Juror 5 now - Frank asks him about his questionnaire answer where he called Black Lives Matter "a marxist communist organization" and asks him to elaborate - 5 says "that's their primary goal..is to convert this country into that"

Frank asks 5 if Black Lives Matter is responsible for "the problems that you've been telling us about - rioting, looting... they're trying to convert this country into something you don't want it to be and that causes you enough concern to arm yourself...?"

Juror 5: correct

Juror 5 tells Frank that he believes people who favor BLM are less likely to be charged criminally than people that oppose BLM and that he doesn't see this as a "race issue"

Frank asks 5 more about his view that people aren't prosecuted for committing crimes - Frank says "here we have a young black male victim and you told us...you had read a lot about him...media reports of what he's alleged to have done...you believe he's gotten away w some things"

5 agrees part of why he has a negative view of Daunte Wright is "if he had listened to the directions he would still be with us... that's what I teach my kids..."

Frank: you said you would do your best [to be a fair juror]...how do you know now that you could do that... that after weeks of trial you could put [opinions] aside?

5: that would be correct

Frank: sounds to me like what you're saying is you can't [be fair and impartial] in this case

5: I will do my best

Frank: but you would agree that you've made some impressions based on what you've read about Mr. Wright, that you still hold today, that would be very difficult to get out of your head?

Juror 5: correct

Frank asks to address the court outside the hearing of the juror - sidebar w headsets happening now

Judge Chu excuses potential Juror 5, who described being so afraid of a Black Lives Matter communist takeover that he arms his family and refuses to park outside.

Judge Chu calls for a morning break of 20 mins until 11:10 p.m. central time in the #KimPotterTrial

Jury selection resuming in the #KimPotterTrial after the break - Juror #6 coming in for Voir Dire now

Judge Chu asks potential juror #6 about her jury questionnaire answers where she said she had a negative impression of both Kim Potter and Daunte Wright - #6 said she answered that way because she wanted to be equal and saw "evidence on both sides"

Judge Chu asks #6 to elaborate on her answer to questionnaire Q about whether the jury system in the USA is fair... 6 says "not always... you hear about cases where the person's found guilty and later on more evidence comes up... I've never served on a jury before.."

Judge Chu: do you believe that our jury system works?

6: yeah, i think so

Chu: in your questionnaire you said "not always, equity issues"

6: sometimes a jury may not be real balanced in terms of background or race

Judge Chu asks 6 about her questionnaire answer saying she didn't want to look at graphic photographs, when pressed on this 6 says says she could do it but that "what you see stays with you."

Juror 6 says she has anxiety and depression and is coming up on the 2-year anniversary of her daughter's death - in her jury questionnaire she said she may be overcome with emotion - Judge Chu asks if she thinks she could still decide the case impartially, #6 says yes

Paul Engh from Kim Potter's defense is up to question potential Juror 6 now - he asks about her questionnaire where she described the narrative of what she remembers about the case incl. Potter yelling "taser!" before she shot Daunte Wright.

6 says she doesn't remember where she heard the 'taser' remark but says she doesn't know how something like that could happen. Engh asks her if she would consider testimony from Potter and officers at the scene, she agrees that yes, she would.

Engh asks #6 about her questionnaire answer that she knew Daunte Wright had been involved in a past shooting - 6 says "I understand that he is not on trial here" - Engh asks "but you would be able to evaluate his conduct as well?", 6 answers "I guess"

Engh says he is concerned about 6 having a negative opinion of Potter on her questionnaire - 6 says she was thinking more about the incident in general when filling out the jury form

6 had written that Potter acted "impulsively" Engh asks "why did you say that?", she answers "if a person is right handed would you think that, in the heat of things, she would naturally use her right hand and not have time to really process that..."

Engh asks about 6 saying "strongly disagree" to the questionnaire prompt that "because law enforcement...have such dangerous jobs it is not right to second guess decisions they make.."

6: if they're trained...you have to wonder if it's the training...

6 wrote "somewhat agree" to the prompt "law enforcement officers do not always receive the respect they deserve"

6 wrote "strongly agree" to the prompt that Black people and other minorities do not receive equal treatment to white people in the justice system - Engh asks if she has any prejudice towards Potter for being white, 6 says no

6 says she is very anti-gun but understands why someone would want a handgun in a high-crime area

Potter defense passes juror #6

Matthew Frank from the Minnesota state prosecution team is questioning potential #6 now

Frank asks #6 what she did before she retired - she says she used to be a special education teacher for elementary and high school students, and taught ESL for immigrants

Frank is asking #6 about the circumstances involved in this case, has her agree that circumstances beyond the moments of the shooting incident, such as police training, will apply as evidence

Frank asks #6 if she can set aside her preconceptions and decide the case based just on the evidence in court, she says yes.

He asks about what she's heard about Daunte Wright's past and if she can set aside what she's heard if it doesn't come up at trial, she agrees.

"I know that the victim is not on trial..." - potential juror 6

6 says her brother was in the Marines and was wounded in Vietnam

Frank asks for a moment - he's huddled conferring w other prosecutors now

Frank is asking #6 about her questionnaire answers about Black Lives Matter - she says she's concerned about damage and deaths during unrest/protests - and Blue Lives Matter - she says she doesn't think 'Blue Lives' supporters always handle themselves well.

#6 says she wasn't personally effected by unrest over the last year or so but says "instigators" can make bad things happen at protests.

MN AG prosecution passes juror #6 for cause - she will be ON the jury panel for the #KimPotterTrial

Judge Chu is now questioning potential juror #7 - asks about his "somewhat negative" impression of Kim Potter as indicated in his questionnaire. #7 says he formed that impression quickly from the news and says he is currently tired after working all night on an overnight shift

7: I did see the video initially.. there was a flurry of excitement around it.... I have not seen it in a long time... it did seem, it was pretty clear what happened but at the time I didn't know what the charges would be... I am somebody that is open to new information...

Judge Chu: what we need to have you do here, is notwithstanding what initial reactions you had and opinions you formed... that you would concentrate on the evidence...testimony and exhibits... and base you decision solely on that, can you do that?

Juror 7: Yes, I can do that...

Judge Chu is asking 7 about an incident where a friend of his got mugged, 7 says his friend called the cops and the cops weren't much help. 7 says this was 3-4 years ago, he was "somewhat unsatisfied" with how cops responded but doesn't think it's a big deal.

Judge Chu asks 7 about his questionnaire answer where he said he had some training re handling a taser, he says he learned how to use a stun gun at around age 14, does not presently own a taser.

Judge Chu: are you willing to serve as a juror in this case?

7: yes

Judge Chu asks about a questionnaire answer where 7 wrote that "I am slightly distrustful of cops...they should be held to the highest standard of scrutiny"

Chu says there will be testimony about cops' standards at trial and if he can disregard his own feelings, he says yes.

7: people are people and I don't think that a badge should exclude you from consequences to actions...

Earl Gray from the Kim Potter defense is questioning Juror 7 now - he (mistakenly?) just referred to the juror by his last name - jurors are supposed to be anonymous

Gray: the jury must decide the case solely based on th evidence... and the law... the multiple times you watched this video have to be set aside... would you attempt to do that...?

Juror 7: yes, definitely

Gray is asking juror 7 about arrangements with his work (Target) for jury duty, 7 says he will be paid 70 percent salary while on jury leave.

Gray asks if 7 had any involvement or interaction w damage and looting to Target during protests, juror 7 says no, he works at a distribution center but did notice some stores were shut down so he didn't send products to those stores for a time.

Gray asks juror 7 about his training w a taser, 7 says he got the training around age 14 and mostly had the taser for protection while touring w his rock band during his 20s but the taser was confiscated at Canadian border and he never replaced it.

Gray asks 7 about his questionnaire saying he is "slightly distrustful" of cops and asks him why

7: a lot of it is just different court cases... it's pretty easy for people to compile video evidence of police brutality... we had a very emotional couple years in Minneapolis...

Gray: could you set that distrust aside sitting on this jury?

7: yes

Gray: not only setting it aside, but the law is my client.. Kim Potter, she's presumed innocent... can you presume her innocent?

7: yes

Gray asks juror 7 about his questionnaire answer about what he saw on the news about the case, asks if he can set that aside, 7 says yes, "I would be entering this with fresh eyes and open to new information..."

Gray: you testified that you managed over 100 individuals at Target... in the jury room would you be willing to listen to everyone else and not become the leader?

7: yes, i'm not an egotistical leader... I don't steamroll anything...

Gray has juror 7 name his rock band

Potter defense is done w juror 7 apparently - Matthew Frank from the state prosecution team is asking Qs now

Frank says "I apologize for calling you by number rather than name, that's what we're doing in this case" - a subtle dig at Potter's lawyer Earl Gray who earlier had referred to Juror 7 by his last name, which is supposed to be a no-no.

Frank: you indicated you're very aware of biases...all people have them...you will not let any biases effect your ability to be a fair and impartial juror...?

7: yes

Frank: being cognitive of biases would prevent you from making decisions are a juror...

7: yes... I'm mindful of it...

Frank: you have some cousins that are in law enforcement... how often do you see them?

7: a couple times a year

Frank: do you have any concern serving as a juror in a case involving a police officer, what your family members might think later?

7: no... we disagree already on so many things...we agree to respect each other...

State of MN prosecution passes juror #7 - Juror 7 is ON the jury, Judge Chu tells him trial is expected to begin December 8 at 9 a.m.

Sidebar happening now w audio muted on the court feed

Judge Chu takes the court into a lunch break until 1:30 p.m. central time

Court in the #KimPotterTrial is resuming now: twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…

Potential juror #16 was called but has not responded and seems unlikely to respond- Judge Chu is asking counsel what to do in light of this, should they just skip her and call another juror, or what

Everybody agrees to release juror 16 for cause - on to the next prospective juror now

Potential juror 8 is up next

Judge Chu asks Juror 8 about his saying on his questionnaire that he had a 'somewhat negative' view of defendant and former cop Kim Potter - he had written under that answer "it's something that no one wants to see happen" and says his answer was "in the context of the situation"

Potential juror 8 says "people in authority are held to a higher standard... that doesn't mean I have an opinion either way...It's one of those bad situations"

Judge Chu: during this trial you'll hear testimony about what a reasonable police officer would do under certain circumstances... can you decide whether the case has proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt based on that testimony and not any other opinions?

8: Yes

Judge Chu: do you want to be on this jury?

8: I'm a retired person, it fascinates me... I feel I am very capable of doing a good job

Earl Gray (Kim Potter defense counsel) is questioning juror 8 now - asks him if there's anything else the court should know that isn't in his questionnaire, 8 says he's "a pretty open minded person" with "all types of friends from all types of backgrounds"

Gray: would you be able to keep an open mind until you hear all the evidence... our side presents after the state...

8: I think I could keep a pretty open mind...

Gray asks potential juror 8 if he would try to be the boss based on his former work in management, 8 says he could keep from doing that. Gray passes the juror, onto Matthew Frank from the prosecution team on Voir Dire of 8

Frank asks 8 about his history with a fire department, he was a fire captain for many years

Frank: a substantial portion of Fire calls are actually medical calls... often police are there... over your career you've worked with Minneapolis police officers?

8: we usually wait for them to clear the scene...

Frank: so over the course of your career, you've had a lot of good experiences with Minneapolis police officers?

8: we get along great w the community, w the police... fire has always been the nice guy...easy to be a fireman because everybody likes ya...glad I picked that career

Frank: do you have any friends that are police officers?

8: My nephew is a police officer in St. Cloud

Frank: every talk to him about his job?

8: a little bit... not a lot

Frank: would you be more likely to believe a police officer when they took the stand?

8: I like to think I would treat everyone the same

Frank: obviously there would be some police officers that would testify, do you think you would evaluate their testimony differently...?

8: no... I don't feel like I would feel any different towards them as somebody else...they're people... you just listen to the information...

Frank: can you assure us you'd be able to set [your previously work w cops] aside?

8: I've had friends that I really liked a lot and there was incidents that happened with people I didn't know and I would support the person I didn't know...I try to be fair to ppl I don't know...

Frank: You were asked about demonstrations in the Twin Cities area, you indicated 'community is always effected by these demonstrations, what did you mean?

8: positive and negative ways... there's two sides to everything

Frank: what are some of the positive ways?

8: it makes society step back and whatever they're demonstrating about, take a hard look at it...someone's demonstrating because they think there's a problem...maybe things will improve...

Frank: some of the negative things?

8: well obviously w the different protests a few things happened... some of the excessive protesting...destruction of property...that's not good, so...

Frank: were you still on the job as a fire captain while that stuff was happening?

8: no, I retired 6 years ago

Frank: you circled 'somewhat disagree' on questionnaire prompt "bc law enforcement officers have such dangerous jobs it is not right to second guess decisions that they make"...

8: at the fire dept if we're out in the field & something's going on... command is in charge... usually the firefighters can object to it but its after the scene at a fireside chat... was I thinking about while they're doing the job at the time?...

when you're out in the field, any military organization...fire police etc... they kind of give a lot of leeway to the person in charge... you don't try to force your senior officer to do something else... after you van bring it up... -8

8: you may second-guess what they're doing...I've second-guessed chiefs all the time...sometimes you. can bring it up but it doesn't do you any good...sometimes there's people that listen to their subordinates...

Frank: As the captain you made decisions others had to follow... did you change your mind later?

Juror 8: ... I was always willing.... I was ok with them doing it their way... I'm pretty open minded about stuff like that I guess

Frank: one of the other Qs was 'people today do not always give law enforcement the respect they deserve' and you circled 'somewhat agree'...why?

8: that's society, that's just the way it is...it's not any particular group... we're a little more relaxed, our society...than it used to be...

Frank: what do you mean by more relaxed?

8: years ago, you did this, you did that, you never went out the box...society was a lot more structured, now we just have a lot more going on...our society was driven certain directions years ago with the military. or whatever it was...things changed a little bit over the years

Frank: so police aren't getting the respect they deserve... like they used to?

8: I would say one percent... they receive one percent less respect than they used to... 51 percent of the population probably thinks they don't get enough respect... I don't feel strongly...

Frank: you were asked a Q about Black Lives Matter do you remember that?

8: I don't know if I have a slightly positive or negative, I probably put neutral bc I don't know anything about it

Frank: you actually checked 'somewhat unfavorable' and said the group could do something about inner city gun crimes

8: they would probably work harder in that area, yes

Frank: do you think that group is associated with demonstrations, riots that led to to property damages?

8: I don't think it was any groups, it was the moment of how it went down, people came out to vent...

Frank: as a juror you're a neutral party... do you think you can be fair and impartial to both sides?

8: I want to be fair... I will definitely do my best on that

Frank: do you have any concerns how a verdict might be received by former ppl you've worked with in the PD or fire dept?

8: not at all... whatever the jury decides I think it's gonna be fair...and just, that's what we want...so I'm going with the system...

Frank asks Judge Chu for a moment, steps off-camera

Juror 8 is dismissed from the panel, he won't be serving on the jury

The state exercised a preemptory strike on juror #8, Judge Chu states for the record

Potential juror #9 is coming up for Voir Dire now

Judge Regina Chu asks juror 9 about his questionnaire answer saying they a 'somewhat negative' view of Kim Potter - writing "she was an officer for a very long time. and made a grave mistake."

Chu asks 9 if he can set aside their general impressions and decide based on evidence, he says he thinks he can set things aside, has heard a small amount of news coverage about the story, and doesn't believe he would be biased.

Chu: you stated that your friends' shop was broken into during one of the demonstrations and he had inventory stolen... he was upset about that?

9: his shop was raided, he then spent a year rebuilding his inventory and redesigning the shop and then after this incident, the protests again, he was targeted at his shop, it was a point of frustration...

Chu: you feel bad for him bc he was a friend... can you decide this case based upon the evidence and not have any sympathy or whatever concern for your friend, without regard to that?

9: I don't think it's my friend that would decide my viewpoint... I think it would be more of my opinion on what had happened...I don't know a lot about what happened

Chu: what happened to your friend is not going to make you tend to vote not guilty or guilty?

9: no

Judge Chu: you indicated that police officers are more likely to respond with force when dealing w a black suspect than when dealing w a white suspect, can you elaborate on your answer?

Juror 9: I don't think it takes a rocket scientist...

9: the tone set for a traffic stop varies based on your race...

Judge Chu: can you keep an open mind in this case in regards to whether that happened here or not?

9: I would want to hear any and all evidence before making a judgment.. I wouldn't have my mind set 100% prior to the case...I know nothing about the defendant...

Judge Chu: on your questionnaire you checked 'not sure' when asked if you wanted to be a juror, do you still feel that way?

9: ...I'm not leaning yes or no..

Chu: are you willing to serve?

9: if the prosecution and defense chooses me, I would... My work is small in nature, I don't have much backup... if I'm selected for jury i don't believe I would say no...

Judge Chu has no more Qs for potential juror 9, now Paul Engh from Potter's defense will ask Qs

Engh: you sound hesitant about serving...am I right...?

9: I don't necessarily know how to answer that, I do know bc of my personal work i have clients to attend to and I don't know how that would ply out... as far as the case itself i don't know if you'd wanna select me...

Engh: why wouldn't I want to select you?

9: full disclosure, I have heard the age of the victim, Mr. Wright... and then I've also heard that Ms. Potter has been an officer for quite some time... I don't know what evidence I could hear that would change my mind per se...

Engh: Sounds like you've kind of made up your mind...that's alright...

9: I do have some biases against your client...I'm curious to hear evidence as to what would change my mind...

Engh: the problem is we have to have a clean slate going in...

9: the main concern for me would be, in all honestly, how, if you're a seasoned officer..if you're about to get into a crash you know the difference between the brake and the gas... if you don't know the difference between a pistol & a taser i question your judgement & expertise

Engh: are you going to have a bias,...

9: I think if you are going to find another juror that would be 100 percent unbiased, I would not be your best selection, but I don't think that many ppl out there wouldn't have much bias towards this case, i don't have much more to say...

Matthew Frank from the state prosecution team is questioning potential juror 9 now - "we all have biases, you recognize you have some biases about the case bc of what you know...the Q is, can you set that aside...?"

Juror 9: ...I would be able to not draw a conclusion 100 percent just by what I believe now... I do honestly believe in a fair trial...

Frank: can you set aside that previous info... and decide the case in a fair an impartial manner?

9: I believe so

Frank: you think you would do that?

9: i would do that, yes

Frank is done w voir dire on 9 now

stuff happening off-camera now

Judge Chu thanks Juror 9 for his honesty, dismisses him from the jury panel - 9 is going home, won't be on the #KimPotterTrial jury.

Judge Chu granted the defense's request to strike 9 for cause - "this juror admitted that he was biased against a defendant, he questioned how a seasoned police officer could not know the difference between a taser and a gun..."

A new group of potential jurors is being brought in for Voir Dire now - they will be sworn in as a batch

The new jury panel has now been sworn in - Judge Regina Chu is introducing the case to them - reminds them former Brooklyn Center police officer is facing charges of 1st & 2nd-degree manslaughter in the shooting death of #DaunteWright on April 11, 2021 in Brooklyn Center, MN.

Judge Chu is giving boilerplate jury instructions about presumption of innocence, prosecution having to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt etc etc

Judge Chu asks the jury panel if anyone has any medical issues that would prevent them serving on the trial, no one raises their hands. Asks if they can all serve fairly and impartially and only find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, everyone raises their hand.

Judge Chu asks jurors to raise their hand if anyone them know any witnesses on the witness list, no hands are raised.

Judge Chu has wrapped up the standard instructions, sends all the jurors from this batch back out except for juror #10

Judge Chu starts questioning potential juror 10 - asks him about his "very negative" impression of Kim Potter indicated on his questionnaire - he wrote that with all her experience" she should know the difference between a taser and a gun"

Juror 10 also wrote on his questionnaire that he had a negative impression of Daunte Wright - "he should not have been shot but the choices he made were incorrect"

Judge Chu asks is he could set all this aside and be fair, he says yes, he could.

10 says he has a few concerns about being a juror - his wife has cancer and is undergoing chemo, he also works in food service at a jail and thinks people would be likely. to recognize him.

Judge Chu: do you know anyone in the Potter family?

10: no but I know they don't live far from me

Judge Chu asks about the Wright family, 10 has the same answer

Judge Chu: Given your wife's health problems, would you be focused on that the whole time during the trial, would it prevent you from being able to listen to the evidence in the case?

10: no, I could listen...

Judge Chu has been going over 10's reservations about jury duty, asks him if i would serve if both parties selected him.

10: I guess I would do it, I don't want to go to jail. it would be tough

Chu: but would you do it?

10: I ain't gonna sit up here and lie to you, I don't wanna do it, but I would

Paul Engh from the Potter defense is questioning 10 now

Engh: would it be fair to say serving here would be a hardship on you bc of your wife's medical condition?

10: yes

Engh: & you're worried about your personal safety if you were to be picked?

10: yes, I don't want anyone to find out I was on the jury... it could be a problem...

Engh solicits more agreement from 10 about jury duty being a hardship that he'd rather avoid, then goes into an off-mic sidebar w headgear on, seems like he will try to get 10 excused off the panel

Judge Chu excuses potential juror #10

Judge Chu: for the record, the parties agreed juror 10 could be excused for cause because he feared for his safety and his wife is very ill

Judge Chu: we're gonna take a 20 minute break

Stay up to date on our coverage of #KimPotterTrial at our landing page. unicornriot.ninja/kim-potter-tri…

Court is back after the break - individual voir dire of potential jurors should resume any minute now

twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…

Potential Juror 13 is up next - Judge Chu is asking her about some of her questionnaire answers

Judge Chu: you stated that a family friend was a victim of a fatal stabbing in Minneapolis.. were the police called in connection w that?

13: yes

Chu: how long ago...?

13: at least 5 years

Chu: was the culprit found?

13: yes... he was found guilty

Chu: he went to prison?

13: yes

Chu: did you any interaction w the police in that?

13: no

Chu: did. youthikn that justice was done in that case?

13: no

Chu: is there anything about that case that makes you think you shouldn't serve on this case because it involves someone who died?

13: no... I think i can serve on this case, every case is different

Judge Chu: on the ability to serve, you indicated that you're a single working person and will need to continue working to support yourself... is that gonna prevent you from serving on the jury [for four weeks]?

13: I do work during the day so I don't know how that's gonna go

Chu: are you able to get off work for this trial if you were chosen?

13: possibly...

Judge Chu: you're supposed to be let off for jury duty... do you know if that's going to be a problem?

Juror 13: I don't know...

Earl Gray from the Kim Potter defense is questioning Juror 13 now, asks if there's anything the court should know that wasn't in her questionnaire, she says not that she knows of.

Gray is asking juror 13 about her jury questionnaire, if she could assume the defendant is presumed innocent etc

Matt Frank from the MN Ag is up to question juror 13 now - asks about her jury questionnaire answer about if she was effected by demonstrations - she wrote "negatively, I don't feel safe going out at night in certain areas" - 13 says "especially at work, I work in Minneapolis"

Frank: "what did you think about the demonstrations and protests going on, while it was happening?"

13: it was scary bc I live kind of in that area as well, so it was... I heard bullets, shots from in my house, so it was scary"

Frank: do you associate those issues w any particular group?

13: you can't really tell who it was so you can't say it was one group or another

Frank: what did you think of how the city and state govt responded...?

13: I feel like it's a little more organized, at work I did see how they handle a situation just right outside our windows, it did seem like it was handled a little better

Frank: do you think that would effect your views in this case... can you leave your thoughts on that outside the jury room... not bring that into how you make decisions?

13: yes

Frank: there was a Q about Ms. Potter and the Brooklyn Center PD and what could make it difficult to be fair you wrote "I respect the police and the law", can you describe why you wrote that?

13: I believe that the police do keep order, it does vary upon cases... there are mistakes sometimes or things happen but I do believe that police are there to keep order...

Frank: do you think you can be a fair and impartial juror for both sides?

13: yes

Frank: do you think you can respect police and the law and still evaluate an officer's testimony like anyone else's?

13: yes

Frank: there's a Q about if law enforcement offiers don't get the respect they deserved, and you checked 'somewhat agree'

13: I think some ppl based on their experience already have a bias... they respect or don't respect so I feel like ppl are biased sometimes...

Frank: on the Q about 'law enforcement officers have difficult jobs so you shouldn't second guess what they do on duty' you checked 'somewhat agree'?

13: ...mistakes happen, sometimes people make mistakes

Frank: some mistakes are bigger than other mistakes, some mistakes are errors?

13: yes

defense objects, asks for sidebar, sidebar happening nnow

Frank: the Q uses the term second-guessing, you answered that you somewhat agree, what did you think that second guessing meant when you answered the Q?

13: I sometimes second guess myself... you deal with the decision you make at that moment

Frank: would you be able to decide the case based just on the law and the facts?

13: yes

Frank: When you serve as a juror, can you fairly apply the law the judge gives you and only the evidence you hear... to arrive at a decision one way or another?

13: yes

Frank passes potential juror 13

seems like juror 13 made it onto the jury - Judge Chu is discussing potential concerns with juror 14's jury questionnaire now

Juror 14 is coming in for Voir Dire now

Judge Chu: you responded to Qs about ability to serve and the timespan this is going to take, and you said there was going to be hardship based on when you are going to university...(court feed crashed for a sec so we missed his answer)

Juror 14 wrote in his questionnaire that he believed bias and sympathy would play a role in his decision as a juror - "my political leanings as well as that of my family would make me biased"

Frank: you have finals coming up during this time?

14: yes

Judge Chu dismissed potential juror #14

Next potential juror in for voir dire is being asked by Judge Chu about the negative impression of Kim Potter she mentioned on her jury questionnaire. Chu asks if she can set that aside and decide on the evidence, she says yes.

Chu: you spent a month volunteering for AG Keith Ellison's campaign, when did that happen?

Juror: August 2018

Chu: as you know Mr. Ellison is representing the state in this case, are you gonna be able to set aside your support of his campaign?

Juror: mixed, i joined the campaign for a month as a political opportunity, it wasn't much about his candidacy

Chu: is that gonna impact how you lok at the state's case?

juror: no

Chu: you want to be on this jury?

Juror: i think so, yes

Chu: you're willing to serve?

Juror yes

Paul Engh from the Potter defense is questioning this juror now - asks about her questionnaire answers about 'accountability' - you wrote "I believe in civil service"

Engh: "fair accountability", what do you mean by that?

juror: fair accountability as rendered by the fair application of law

Engh: does this mean calling Officer Potter into account?

Juror: the forces at work, what led to that scenario...

Engh: on pg. 4 of your questionnaire you checked 'somewhat negative' for your view of Kim Potter - her acts seem careless and without regard for potential consequences but not intentionally malicious"...?

Juror: ...the actions did seem careless based on what I recall...from media coverage... they also did not seem intentional to me

Engh: your questionnaire says a 'neutral' impression of Daunte Wright... you also wrote how "absurd..this incident was after the death of George Floyd", can you say more?

Juror:... i felt officer Potter's actions were careless...I felt at least I was more on edge about police behavior and my own behavior in regards to the convo we were having as a culture and it felt unfortunate and somewhat careless that the actions occurred

Engh: would you agree she is presumed innocent?

juror: yes

Engh: you engaged in the protests or visited George Floyd Square?

Juror: I visited closer to George Floyd's murder, I went once to a protest on Lake St...

Engh: how many protests have you been to?

Juror: just the one...

Engh asks the jury about her answer on questionnaire re: 'defund the police', she says she thinks police are overfunded

Engh: would that effect your judgement in this case?

Juror: no

Engh: if a friend wanted to become a cop would you try to talk them out of it?

Juror: probably not

Engh asks the juror about her reply to questionnaire section bout 'Blue Lives Matter' - she wrote "it's not about police, it's about white supremacy"

Juror talks about her career involving research into disinformation leading her to this conclusion

Engh asks about her describing Black Lives Matter as "unstable" on her questionnaire, she says this is because BLM has "had a lot of leadership changes"

Engh asks about the potential juror's previous work for MN AG Ellison's campaign, asks for a moment to confer.

Judge Chu dismisses the juror

Judge Chu asks counsel to look at Juror #18's questionnaire overnight, points out her anxiety issues, Juror 19 has some childcare issues, juror 30 is pregnant and vomiting

Juror 31 wife has cancer and he has high blood pressure, Juror 38's husbands best friend is friends with Kim Potter, juror 43 is a Minneapolis police officer. "Those are the ones that kind of stuck out to me" - Judge Chu

Judge Chu is ending court for the day, day 2 of jury selection will begin at 9 a.m. central time tomorrow

Court in day 1 of the #KimPotterTrial is done - we're still #LIVE catching the protest rally outside the court: twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…

It's your support that allows our small independent media organization continue - Thank you! 🥰🦄 unicornriot.ninja/donate/