A judge presiding over the cases against three former Minneapolis police officers charged in George Floyd's death did not immediately rule on their request to prohibit livestreaming their joint trials next year.
The issue arose during a hearing Thursday that touched on several issues: accusations that the county medical examiner was coerced into changing his findings in Floyd's death, a failed attempt to subpoena Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to testify about a leak to the media, and a request for police discipline records.
The hearing for J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao grew contentious at times and was punctuated by Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill admonishing prosecutors for their behavior at co-defendant Derek Chauvin's trial this year.
Kueng, Lane and Thao are charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter. They waived their right to appear and were not in attendance.
During a discussion about defense claims that Hennepin County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Andrew Baker was pressured by another doctor, Cahill pointed a finger at Assistant Attorney General Matthew Frank.
Cahill said prosecutors were "disrespectful" when they limited discussion of Baker's credentials while introducing him as a witness. Attorneys commonly ask a witness about their educational history and work experience before they testify.
"That's how highly I think of Dr. Baker," Cahill said.
The judge's comments, which did not go any further, underscored the prosecution's apparent but unspoken dissatisfaction with Baker. Prosecutors called an outside pathologist to testify before Baker, duplicating his role.