logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2020
59m 40s

Graham

Wnyc Studios
About this episode

If former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s case for the death of George Floyd goes to trial, there will be this one, controversial legal principle looming over the proceedings: The reasonable officer.

In this episode, we explore the origin of the reasonable officer standard, with the case that sent two Charlotte lawyers on a quest for true objectivity, and changed the face of policing in the US.

This episode was produced by Matt Kielty with help from Kelly Prime and Annie McEwen.

Support Radiolab today at Radiolab.org/donate 

Up next
Oct 10
Creation Story
Ella al-Shamahi is one part Charles Darwin, one part Indiana Jones. She braves war zones and pirate-infested waters to collect fossils from prehistoric caves, fossils that help us understand the origin of our species. Her recent hit BBC / PBS series Human follows her around the g ... Show More
34m 53s
Oct 3
Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl
This is the story of a three-year-old girl and the highest court in the land. The Supreme Court case Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl is a legal battle that has entangled a biological father, a heart-broken couple, and the tragic history of Native American children taken from their f ... Show More
45m 29s
Sep 26
Voice
Over the course of millions of years, human voices have evolved to hold startling power. These clouds of vibrating air carry crucial information about who we are–and we rely on them to push ourselves up and out into the physical world.This week, we’re on a journey to understand h ... Show More
1h 6m
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2021
George Floyd Case: Trial Of Former Police Officer Derek Chauvin Underway
Jury selection in the highly anticipated trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin began Tuesday after being delayed amid an effort to gain clarity on the potential of a third-degree murder charge. Chauvin faces charges in the killing of George Floyd last Memorial ... Show More
14m 12s
Mar 2022
Legal Talk: McMichael’s Conviction, Crumbley Parent’s trial, and Curtis Reeves verdict— TCD Sidebar
In this episode of True Crime Daily The Sidebar Podcast: Ashley Willcott, judge and legal analyst for Court TV, joins host Joshua Ritter to discuss the cases making headlines from the perspective of two seasoned trial lawyers. They discuss the McMichael’s federal hate crime convi ... Show More
32m 28s
Apr 2021
Ep. 197: How Derek Chauvin Was Convicted Of Murder
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty Tuesday for the murder of George Floyd, following a weeks-long trial that captured the world’s attention. Law360’s senior trials reporter Cara Bayles was there every step of the way, and she joins us this week to br ... Show More
48m 28s
Aug 2022
Ep. 263: The Legal Story Behind ‘We Own This City’
On a special episode of the Pro Say podcast we go behind the scenes of HBO’s hit miniseries We Own This City. The show explores the true story of a corrupt Baltimore Police Department task force that was ultimately charged with an array of crimes, a depiction that lays bare the s ... Show More
31m 56s
Apr 2021
A Verdict
Three hundred and thirty-one days ago, Derek Chauvin put his knee on the neck of George Floyd for 9 minutes and 29 seconds. George Floyd took his last breath on his stomach, hands cuffed behind his back.His death, captured on cell phone video by 17-year-old Darnella Frazier, spar ... Show More
29m 20s
Dec 2022
Wagner convicted in Pike County massacre; Masterson case declared a mistrial – TCD Sidebar
In this episode of True Crime Daily The Sidebar Podcast: Florina Altshiler joins host Joshua Ritter to break down the biggest cases making headlines across the nation. They discuss the conviction of George Wagner IV on all counts, a former border patrol agent on trial for the mur ... Show More
40m 48s
Mar 2022
Legal Talk: Hankison Verdict; Scott Peterson’s Defense; Cosby Conviction Overturned —TCD Sidebar
In this episode of True Crime Daily The Sidebar Podcast: Imran Ansari, a former DA prosecutor, attorney, and legal analyst for Court TV, joins host Joshua Ritter to discuss the cases making headlines from the perspective of two seasoned trial lawyers. They break down the Brett Ha ... Show More
48m 12s
Mar 2019
Silvon Simmons
In 2016, Silvon Simmons was shot in the back by police officer Joseph Ferrigno. The Rochester Police Department said Silvon fired first, and charged him with attempted aggravated murder of a police officer. “My first instinct, to be honest, was they shot this guy and now there’s ... Show More
34m 52s
Jun 2024
Jurors in Karen Read's trial shocked. Josh Mankiewicz on the Dee Ann Warner case. And a last-minute plea.
Outside Boston, the lead investigator might be an asset for the defense. His texts about Karen Read present a real obstacle for the prosecution's case. No physical evidence of actual murder? No problem. Why a judge says Dee Ann Warner's husband should go to trial in Michigan. Dat ... Show More
26m 14s