Judge Bruce Schroeder on Monday dismissed the jury for the night after telling them they have an obligation to render a fair verdict, not based on his presumed opinion, news media, or comments from President Joe Biden, or his predecessor President Donald Trump.
“The time has now come where the great burden of reaching a just, fair, and conscientious decision in this case will be placed totally with you. You will not be swayed by sympathy, passion, prejudice, or political beliefs. You will disregard any impressions that you may have, which you may believe are my opinion on the guilt or innocence of the defendant,” Judge Schroeder told the jury.
“You will disregard the claims or opinions of any person, news media, or social networking site,” the judge continued. “You will pay no heed to the opinions of anyone — even the president of the United States, or the president before him.”
“The founders of our country gave you, and you alone, the power and the duty to decide this case,” Judge Schroeder asserted.
The judge then gave general instructions to the jury, before sending them home. In the morning, at around 9 a.m., the jury will return and begin to deliberate.