Jury Selection Proceeds Quickly in Kim Potter Trial

Racial Reckoning: The Arc of Justice

Thursday, the Hennepin County court seated the last three jurors for the trial of the former Brooklyn Center police officer charged in the death of Daunte Wright. The court still needs to seat two alternate jurors before it can begin testimony.

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Feven Gerezgiher reports:

Thursday, the Hennepin County court seated the last three jurors for the trial of the former Brooklyn Center police officer charged in the death of Daunte Wright. The court still needs to seat two alternate jurors before it can begin testimony.

Judge Regina Chu says at this pace, it’s possible testimony will begin sooner than initially scheduled.

Of those seated on the jury two are Asian and one is Black.

Judge Chu dismissed an East African immigrant Thursday over concerns about a language barrier.

“Any juror needs to understand every word that is being spoken - legal concepts, principles,” said Chu. “Nobody knows everything, you know, if you haven’t served on a jury or haven't gone to law school, that's not a problem. But understanding every word spoken is a necessity in order to be able to sit.”

Earlier in the week a Hispanic woman was also excused over language concerns.

The defense used peremptory challenges to strike two jurors: a first-year law student who has been vocal on social media about previous police trials, and a woman whose friend quit the Brooklyn Center police force.

Several of Daunte Wright’s family members took turns sitting in the courtroom. Mother Katie Wright wiped tears away while listening to Juror 52 testify as to why she could not be a fair and impartial juror.

“The police have murdered my uncle…and they haven’t treated my family right so it’s very hard to put that aside,” she said. “I personally don’t think I should be a part of this jury because I know that what happened was three blocks from where I used to live and it’s very hard to hear.”

Former Brooklyn Center police officer Kimberly Potter is charged with two counts of manslaughter in the death of 20-year-old Daunte Wright during a traffic stop in April.