Close this content. Read full article. More content below. Patrick Daley Thompson. Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune. In this article:. Story continues. Our goal is to create a safe and engaging place for users to connect over interests and passions.
In order to improve our community experience, we are temporarily suspending article commenting. Recommended Stories. The Daily Beast. Atlanta Black Star. The Advocate. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Business Insider. WJW - Cleveland. Tri-City Herald. Bench trials may also be an appropriate choice for defendants accused of heinous crimes or who have a shocking appearance or long criminal records. Jurors are sometimes swayed by sympathy, anger or emotion and may find it hard to make a decision based on evidence and rules.
Judges are trained to put feelings aside and follow the letter of the law. Williams, who was a former police misconduct officer with the civil rights division of the U. Department of Justice. After the judge acquitted him due to insufficient evidence, the next two officers also elected to have bench trial and were acquitted as well. Prosecutors, in turn, dropped all charges in the remaining cases.
In a lengthy page ruling on the last case, Judge Williams explained his reasons for the acquittal, including how the state failed to meet its burden.
A bench trial is not an option in every case. In Texas, for example, capital murder defendants facing the death penalty cannot choose a bench trial.
According to Article 1. In Maryland, where the Freddie Gray murder trials were held, the decision to have a judge decide the case was solely up to the defendants. Prosecutors in that state have no say in the decision, an issue that has stirred debate and have some lawmakers there calling for change.
Regardless of the rules of each state, the decision whether to have a trial by judge or jury is an important one. Potter has told the court she will testify. She could be heard on body-camera video saying, "Taser, Taser, Taser" before she fired, followed by, "I grabbed the wrong expletive gun.
Wright, 20, was shot as Chauvin was standing trial 10 miles away for killing Floyd. Wright's death sparked several nights of intense protests in the suburb. The most serious charge against Potter requires prosecutors to prove recklessness; the lesser requires them to prove culpable negligence. Minnesota's sentencing guidelines call for a sentence of just over seven years on the first-degree manslaughter count and four years on the second-degree one.
Prosecutors have said they would seek a longer sentence. Nikki Haley Fast Facts. French voting app Elyze matches users with presidential candidates. Load Error. Daunte Wright's girlfriend testifies in Kim Potter trial. ABC News See more videos.
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