Judge’s order prohibits cameras during trial of ex-officers charged in George Floyd’s death

Judge Peter Cahill issued a new decision late Monday to prohibit cameras in the courtroom for the upcoming trial of three former Minneapolis police officers charged in connection with George Floyd’s 2020 death.

A media coalition, which included KSTP, as well as prosecutors had requested access for cameras in the courtroom to cover the trial of former officers J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao.

Cahill’s decision to prohibit cameras cites previous rulings on livestreaming: “The Court acknowledged that it was allowing more extensive audio and video coverage than is permitted” by existing statutes. “The Court did not do so lightly, but out of necessity in light of the vicissitudes of the ongoing public health pandemic.”

Once COVID-19 restrictions began to ease in the state, in-person trials began increasing.

Now, as Judge Cahill states in his decision, the weeks set for the upcoming trial for the three former officers “are materially different from those the Court confronted from November 2020 through April 2021 with the Chauvin trial.”

The trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was the first case in Minnesota to allow cameras in the courtroom.

Jury selection for the trial of Kueng, Lane and Thao is set to begin June 14.

They’re each charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.

View the full decision below.