Presiding over the Chauvin murder trial in Minnesota, Judge Peter Cahill condemned Congressman Maxine Waters of California for inciting violence by instructing Twin Cities protestors to be “more confrontational” if a guilty verdict was not returned.

Responding to defense attorney Eric Nelson’s motion to declare a mistrial based upon the prejudicial nature of Waters’ aggressive statement, Judge Cahill said of his denial of the motion:

Source: Star Tribune

https://www.startribune.com/jury-ends-first-day-of-deliberating-with-no-verdicts-in-derek-chauvin-murder-trial/600047627/

“I’ll give you that Congresswoman Waters may have given you something on appeal that may result on this whole trial being overturned,” Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill said, denying the motion while acknowledging that Nelson’s concerns were legitimate.

“This goes back to what I’ve been saying from the beginning,” the judge said. “I wish elected officials would stop talking about this case, especially in a manner that is disrespectful to the rule of law and to the judicial branch and our function.

“I think if they want to give their opinions, they should do so in a respectful and in a manner that is consistent with their oath to the Constitution to respect a coequal branch of government. Their failure to do so I think is abhorrent, but I don’t think it has prejudiced us with additional material that would prejudice this jury,” Cahill said, adding that the jury has been repeatedly told to not to follow the news.