Jury of Color to Seat for Trial of Derek Chauvin, Police Officer Charged for the Death of George Floyd

By Jess Smith Mar 24 2021, 05:46 AM EDT

Activists Rally At Minnesota State Capitol Ahead Of Trial Of Derek Chauvin — ST PAUL, MN - MARCH 19: Children help carry a portrait of George Floyd outside the Minnesota State Capitol building as activists gather on March 19, 2021 in St Paul, Minnesota. This morning Judge Peter Cahill rejected motions for change of venue and continuance by the defense of former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin, who is accused of killing George Floyd last May. Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Almost 10 months after George Floyd's death, the jury who will decide the fate of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has finally been chosen.

Chauvin is the police officer charged for the death of Floyd after he knelt on the neck of the man while subduing him for more than nine minutes. The jury who will determine the fate of Chauvin is composed of nine women and six men.

According to USA Today, the selection of the jury for the case which sparked the issue of inequality, racism, and police brutality in the U.S. took 11 days of questioning by prosecution and defense attorneys. On Tuesday, the 15th juror was selected, wrapping up the selection process.

The jury is composed of people of different colors; nine of the 15 are white, two are women of mixed races, one black woman, and three black men.

Out of the 15 jurors, 12 will be chosen to deliberate, while two will serve as alternatives. The last juror will be dismissed if all the others come for the opening statements.

Floyd's Death and Protests

On May 25, 2020, Derek Chauvin, a then-Minneapolis police officer, subdued black man George Floyd during a confrontation by kneeling on his neck. Footage of the incident showed how Floyd begged Chauvin and repeated several times that he couldn't breathe as the police restrained him. George died in police custody on that day.

Floyd's death fueled protests within the U.S. and globally, with people taking to the streets their call for changes in the criminal justice system and systemic racism. Several protests turned violent as people began looting establishments and even burned a police precinct. Hundreds of protesters were arrested amid the height of the 'Black Lives Matter' protests.

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Charges against Derek Chauvin

The former police officer, who was deemed responsible for the death of Floyd, is now facing charges of second-degree manslaughter, second-degree murder, and third-degree murder. If the jury votes for his conviction, Chauvin could face 10½ to 15 years in jail, Star Tribune reported.

Due to the high-profile case, the court proceedings of Chauvin's case have been watched by the whole of Minnesota, the U.S., and even globally.

Most members of the jury have already seen the video of the incident leading to Floyd's death. However, they have pledged that they will separate their opinions and make a decision only based on the facts and evidence presented in court.

Reports state that the defense is expected to present details of the drug-related arrest of Floyd in 2019. Meanwhile, the prosecutors are also expected to discuss incidents involving Derek Chauvin that they say could demonstrate that what he did to Floyd was intentional and is inconsistent with his training.

The selection of the jury has also become very dramatic. At one point, several potential jurors became very emotional while others expressed worry about their safety once they were chosen.

Opening statements on Derek Chauvin's trial are set to begin on Monday, The Washington Post reported.

WATCH: Jury selection completed in Derek Chauvin's murder trial - CNBC Television