A judge today denied a defense request to delay or move the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer charged in George Floyd’s death after a $27 million settlement for Floyd’s family raised concern about a tainted jury.

Jury selection was halfway complete last week in former officer Derek Chauvin’s trial when the city of Minneapolis unanimously approved the payout to settle a civil lawsuit over Floyd’s death.

Chauvin’s attorney, Eric Nelson, called the timing of the settlement deeply disturbing and unfair, and said it jeopardized Chauvin’s chance for a fair trial.

Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill had called the timing “unfortunate” but declined Friday to delay proceedings.

A total of 12 jurors have now been selected, leaving just two alternates yet to be chosen. So far, six of the jurors are white, four are Black, and two are multiracial, according to the court.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relaxed its social distancing guidelines for schools Friday, saying students can now sit 3 feet apart in classrooms.

The revised COVID-19 recommendations represent a turn away from the 6-foot standard that has forced some schools to remove desks, stagger scheduling and take other steps to keep children away from one another.

St. Thomas baseball’s doubleheader yesterday against St. Scholastica at U.S. Bank Stadium was postponed due to COVID-19 protocols and no make-up date has been scheduled yet.

Instead, the Tommies played an intersquad scrimmage at the stadium.

St. Thomas’ next contest is a non-conference 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday against Northwestern-St. Paul in Roseville.

Maddy Herman can be reached at herm6407@stthomas.edu.