Petition seeks access to Chauvin trial

MINNEAPOLIS — A British newspaper asked the Minnesota Court of Appeals on Friday to swiftly throw out a judge’s order denying it credentials for a former police officer’s trial in George Floyd’s death.

Hennepin County Chief Judge Toddrick Barnette on Wednesday sanctioned the London-based Daily Mail for publishing video from police body cameras before its public release. He alleged the footage had been “stolen,” and denied the newspaper access to the media center near the courthouse where Derek Chauvin will be tried, along with access to trial exhibits and “all media updates related to the trial.”

In a petition filed by media lawyer Mark Anfinson, the Daily Mail and its website said they had acted lawfully at all times and that their actions were protected by Minnesota law and the First Amendment. They asked for an expedited review because opening statements are scheduled for Monday.

The Daily Mail in August published parts of body camera videos from two other Minneapolis police officers involved in Floyd’s arrest on May 25. The trial judge, Peter Cahill, had allowed journalists and members of the public to view them on computers by appointment, but not to record or retransmit them. The newspaper said it was “leaked a copy of the video from a third party source not associated with the court.” Cahill did not lift his prohibition on copying and distributing the videos until a few days after the Daily Mail published them.