Viewers watching the trial of a former Minneapolis officer charged with murder in George Floyd 's death may be struck by the array of prosecutors taking turns presenting their case.
The choice of who does what is no accident. While Derek Chauvin ’s attorney, Eric Nelson, works alone, the prosecution is being handled by two assistant attorneys general, Matthew Frank and Erin Eldridge, and two outside lawyers, Jerry Blackwell and Steve Schleicher.
Ten more are working behind the scenes, many for free. Experts agree the roles played by prosecutors are based on the skill sets each brings, but appearances matter, too.
WHY DID BLACKWELL GIVE THE OPENING STATEMENT? The undercurrent of racial tension — a white police officer accused of killing a