Jury selection began Tuesday in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis policeman facing murder and manslaughter charges for his role in the death of George Floyd during an arrest that caused an outcry around the world.

Minnesota Judge Peter Cahill went ahead with the jury selection, which was delayed Monday after state prosecutors argued to the Minnesota Court of Appeals that the high stakes trial should not begin into a higher court, resolved how many criminal charges sharpen should face.

Judge Cahill said he believed he had jurisdiction to proceed unless he was ordered otherwise.

The small group of potential jurors have been promised anonymity for the duration of the trial, a trial which is involved barricading parts of downtown Minneapolis for fear of civil unrest.

The court also mailed prospective jurors and unusually detailed 16 page questionnaire last year, asking them what they know about Floyd's death and asking for their opinions on the black lives matter movement.

Yeah, Hundreds of anti racism demonstrators chanted in the streets around a barricaded courthouse on Monday, blocking traffic as a small number of soldiers called in from the Minnesota National Guard watched from a distance.

The trial is set as a landmark case on police violence against black people in the United States.

Restraint Campbell Shaaban and three other police officers were fired the day after the deadly arrest on May 25th in which Shaaban was captured on video kneeling on the neck of George Floyd.

The video got international attention and sparked protests globally.

Chavin, who was released on $1 million bond last October, would face up to 40 years in prison if convicted on the most serious charge.