Derek Chauvin and a Post-Rule-of-Law Society

Derek Chauvin and a Post-Rule-of-Law Society
In this image from video, defense attorney Eric Nelson, left, discusses motions before the court as defendant, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, right, and Nelson's assistant Amy Voss, back, listen as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill presides over the trial of Chauvin at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis, Minn., on April 12, 2021. Court TV via AP/Pool
William Wagner
Updated:
Commentary

A year ago, America exploded in protests and riots after George Floyd died while being arrested by police in Minneapolis. Today, the officer who held Floyd’s head to the ground with his knee sits on trial, but what many expected to be an open-and-shut case has been complicated by evidence that Floyd had dangerous levels of drugs in his system, and other contributing health problems.

William Wagner
William Wagner
Author
Professor William Wagner is president of the Great Lakes Justice Center. He is a former federal judge and is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, having taught ethics and constitutional law for more than 20 years.
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