LAWYER Jerry Blackwell has represented many large companies – but he is currently serving on the prosecution team in the high-profile criminal trial of Derek Chauvin.
The 45-year-old Chauvin is charged with unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and manslaughter in connection with George Floyd's death.
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Who is Jerry Blackwell?
Jerry Blackwell is the founding partner, CEO and chairman of the Minneapolis law firm of Blackwell Burke P.A.
He joined the Minnesota attorney general's office specifically for the Chauvin case and will not be paid for his work on it, according to The New York Times.
The experienced attorney serves as national and trial counsel for several major corporations, according to his online bio.
He has represented his clients in at least 47 states – and internationally.
"Blackwell has numerous winning jury verdicts and favorable settlements to his credit," his bio reads.
"He is a frequent presenter on winning trial strategies and how to communicate complicated legal, scientific, and business issues to jurors."
When he is not working, Blackwell enjoys beekeeping, meditation, "and is an avid hobby farmer."
What did Blackwell say during opening arguments?
Prosecutor Jerry Blackwell made the prosecution's opening statements during the Derek Chauvin trial in Minneapolis on March 29.
He showed jurors the footage of George Floyd's death at the earliest opportunity after telling them that the number to remember was 9 minutes, 29 seconds – the amount of time Chauvin had Floyd pinned to the ground on May 25, 2020.
“He put his knees upon his neck and his back, grinding and crushing him, until the very breath – no, ladies and gentlemen – until the very life was squeezed out of him,” said the prosecutor.
Blackwell explained in an impassioned speech why the jury will be asked to convict Chauvin.
"You will learn that on May 25 of 2020, Mr. Derek Chauvin betrayed this badge when he used excessive and unreasonable force upon the body of Mr. George Floyd," Blackwell told the jury.
The prosecutor would add that "there was no excuse for the police abuse of Mr. Chauvin."
Defense lawyers argued during opening statements that Floyd had a heart condition and drugs in his system.
"The evidence will show that Mr. Floyd died of a cardiac arrhythmia that occurred as a result of hypertension, his coronary disease, the ingestion of methamphetamine and fentanyl, and the adrenaline flowing through his body – all of which acted to further compromise an already comprised heart," said defense lawyer Eric Nelson.
Blackwell argued that Floyd "did not die from an opioid overdose."
"They're not screaming for their lives, they're not calling on their mothers," said the prosecutor.
"They are not begging, 'Please, please I can't breathe.'"
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