Day 2 of jury selection in trial of Kim Potter

Jury selection continues in the trial of Kim Potter, the former Brooklyn Center police officer who is charged with manslaughter in the shooting death of Daunte Wright during a traffic stop on April 11, 2021. Four jurors were seated on the first day of jury selection, Tuesday. Each side used a strike on a juror, leaving the state with two peremptory challenges left while the defense has four.

Just before 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Judge Regina Chu and the attorneys for both sides discussed some procedural items and Judge Chu informed Potter that she’s allowed to change her mind about testifying if she wants. It was announced Tuesday that she plans to testify.

RELATED STORY: Day one in jury selection in the trial of Kim Potter

Jury selection began at 9:03 a.m. with potential juror No. 17. Juror No. 17 says she recently graduated and works full-time. It’s her first time being called for jury duty. After about five minutes of questioning, Judge Chu informs the juror that she will serve on the jury in this case, making her the fifth juror seated in the case.

Potential juror No. 19 was next to answer questions from the judge and attorneys. Juror No. 19 is a woman, and a teacher. After approximately 40 minutes of questioning, Judge Chu informs juror No. 19 that she will serve on the jury, making her the sixth juror seated in the case.

Another panel of seven potential jurors is called in to be sworn in and Judge Chu explain the process and charges in this case.

Following general statements and guidelines, potential juror No. 20 is the first to answer questions from attorneys in Voir dire. Potential juror No. 20 is a man, and father of three. After 15 minutes of questions from attorney Earl Gray, the state uses its second of up to five peremptory challenges to dismiss the juror.

Judge Chu then calls for a 20-minute morning break.

When court reconvenes at 11 a.m., questioning began with juror No. 21, a man. He is chosen for the jury in this case. Juror No. 22 goes before the judge, and notes that his wife was once a law clerk for Chu. Both attorney’s question the man, who will be the eighth juror seated.

Potential juror No. 23 says she doesn’t speak English well and struggled to understand Judge Chu when she was sworn in earlier. After a couple minutes, Chu excuses her and, because the next panel of potential jurors wasn’t expected to be ready until 1:30 p.m., Chu tells the attorneys they can get lunch early.

Judge Chu also says she’s pleased with how jury selection is going and tells the attorneys to think about whether or not it would make sense to move up the start of the trial from Dec. 8. She said they will need at least one day off after the jury is set to go over jury instructions and other items.

Following the lunch break, potential juror No. 26 takes the stand for questioning. The woman is a student, and will have final exams in a few weeks. However, she says it is her civic duty to serve if chosen. The woman was questioned by the attorneys, and Judge Chu says she will serve on the jury.