Who is Jerry Blackwell? George Floyd is dead because Derek Chauvin's 'heart was too small', says prosecutor
Prosecuting attorney Jerry Blackwell had a rather poignant finish to his closing rebuttal on Monday night, April 19. He told the jury, "Having seen all the evidence and having heard on the evidence, you know the truth, and the truth of the matter is that the reason George Floyd is dead is because Mr Chauvin's heart was too small." The lawyer managed to take the defense's argument and twist it, closing the long three weeks of the trial.
"You are told, for example, that Mr Floyd died, that Mr Floyd died because his heart was too big," Blackwell said, referring to the controversial testimony by Dr David Fowler. Following his comments, the jury has retired to deliberate the case, which has seen strong testimony from both sides. Blackwell is no stranger to high-profile cases, having dealt with many over his years practicing law. We thought, given his high-profile role, we should look into Blackwell. Who exactly is he? How did he come to be associated with the trial of Chauvin? Those are just some of the many questions we hope to uncover.
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Who is Jerry Blackwell?
The Minnesota-based lawyer graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1984. He then went on to complete a law degree from the same university, graduating in 1987. We couldn't find any record of what he did between then and 2006. He founded his own law firm Blackwell Burke PA in 2006, where he is listed as the Chairman and founding partner. His LinkedIn profile does not provide any further details. He is also listed as one of the founders of the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers.
According to the firm's website, Blackwell is "admitted to practice in the state and federal courts of Minnesota, federal district courts of Michigan, Arizona, Colorado, and Illinois, as well as the United States Supreme Court and Fourth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeals". In 2011, he was appointed by Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton to serve as an at-large member of the Minnesota Commission on Judicial Appointments. Blackwell served two terms that ended in 2019.
Blackwell has represented a variety of big clients including Walmart, 3M Company and General Mills, among other Fortune 500 clients. In 2020, he also won a posthumous pardon for Max Mason. Mason served five years in jail after an all-White jury convicted him of raping a White woman, despite the strong lack of evidence. It is the first posthumous pardon granted in Minnesota’s history. Blackwell spearheaded the fight for the historic verdict, which is how he joined the trial of Chauvin.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison was responsible for encouraging Blackwell to apply for Mason's pardon. Following his success, Ellison brought him on board to prosecute the case against Chauvin. Blackwell was one of the four lawyers to join the case pro bono, meaning they won't be paid for their time.
Not much is known about Blackwell's personal life. We couldn't find any mention of a family or spouse anywhere. He does appear to wear a wedding ring in some photos, so it is likely he is married. He also doesn't have a presence on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. The company website says: "Mr Blackwell enjoys beekeeping, meditation, and is an avid hobby farmer."
Chauvin 'had the badge'
During his closing arguments, Blackwell targeted both Chauvin and his lawyer. He told jurors, "He (Chauvin) had the bullets, the guns, the mace that he threatened the bystanders with. He had backup. He had the badge. He had all of it. And what was there to be afraid of, here particularly, at this scene?"
He also claimed Chauvin's attorney Eric Nelson misinterpreted the law. "When he (Nelson) was talking about causation, he talks about fentanyl, heart failure, hypertension. He says that we have to show beyond a reasonable doubt that none of these other factors played a role. What we need to prove is that the defendant's actions were a substantial causal factor in his death. It does not have to be the only causal factor. It doesn't have to be the biggest substantial factor. It just has to be one of them."
He then closed his arguments by saying "Mr Chauvin's heart was too small."