Juror In Chauvin Trial Scrutinized For T-Shirt, March Attendance

MINNEAPOLIS — Brandon Mitchell, otherwise known as "juror 52" in the murder trial against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in George Floyd's death, is receiving scrutiny after it was revealed that he attended the March on Washington anniversary last summer and wore a shirt that apparently references Floyd's arrest.

The identities of jurors are kept private, but Mitchell, 31, chose to reveal himself by speaking to the media after the verdict — guilty on all three counts — was reached in Chauvin's trial.

A photo from Mitchell's visit to D.C. — shared by the International Business Times on May 3 — showed him wearing a T-shirt that read "GET YOUR KNEE OFF OUR NECKS" and "BLM."

The photo is fueling speculation that Mitchell was not forthcoming about his political activism when he was interviewed as a potential juror.

At issue is a pretrial questionnaire that all jurors were asked to fill out. Mitchell said he answered "no" when asked if he participated in protests about police use of force or police brutality.

Mitchell was forced to defend his answer this week, saying the anniversary march was not about Floyd or the police.

"I'd never been to D.C.," Mitchell told the Star Tribune after the photo surfaced. "The opportunity to go to D.C., the opportunity to be around thousands and thousands of Black people; I just thought it was a good opportunity to be a part of something."

Floyd's brother and sister, Philonise and Bridgett Floyd, did speak at the rally in D.C. and police use of force was one of the event's focuses. But Mitchell insists the event was primarily a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech.

"It's disconcerting," defense attorney Mike Padden — who is not a part of the trial — told the newspaper "Maybe with that disclosure, Mr. Nelson keeps him on the jury, but I don't think so," he speculated.

Mitchell's conduct may come up as Chavuin's defense attorney, Eric Nelson, seeks to overturn the verdict.

Nelson filed a motion for a new trial Tuesday. He also motioned for a hearing to impeach the verdict "on the grounds that the jury committed misconduct, felt threatened or intimidated, felt race-based pressure during the proceedings, and/or failed to adhere to instructions during deliberations, in violation of Mr. Chauvin's constitutional rights to due process and a fair trial."

Sentencing for Chauvin

Chauvin was convicted on April 20 of second and third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter by a Hennepin County jury. He will be sentenced on June 25.

Chauvin has opted to have Cahill — and not the jury in his case — determine his prison sentence. Here are the maximum prison sentences for each of the three offenses in Minnesota:

• 2nd-degree murder: 40 years max
• 3rd-degree murder: 25 years max
• 2nd-degree manslaughter: 10 years max

Chauvin's sentences will run concurrently, meaning at most he will spend 40 years in prison.

Under Minnesota sentencing guidelines, Chauvin should receive a sentence of 12.5 years, because he has never before been convicted of a crime. However, the state prosecutors argue that Chauvin should receive an "upward departure" because of aggravating factors in the case.

Read more: Sentencing For Derek Chauvin Delayed To June 25