Professor Eric Johnson spoke to WLS-AM 890 about the charges brought against Minnesota police officer Kim Potter in the shooting of Daunte Wright. Potter was charged with second-degree manslaughter, which, according to Minnesota law, requires reckless homicide. Johnson is skeptical that proving reckless homicide is likely.
"Most states have negligent homicide laws. In a lot of states the lowest level homicide is negligent homicide, which just requires that the person really should have been aware of the risk posed by their conduct. In a few states though, including Minnesota and Illinois, the lowest level is recklessness - they don't have negligent homicide. And in fact, some people, including, frankly, me, have complained in the past that Illinois really needs a negligent homicide law, to handle cases just like this one," Johnson said.
Listen to the full interview.