Griffin v. Bell

In section 1983 action alleging that defendant, Chicago police officer who was working as security supervisor at plaintiff’s high school, used excessive force in arresting plaintiff-14-year-old student, Dist. Ct. did not err in denying plaintiff’s motion to excuse for cause two jurors, who initially indicated that they would give more weight to testimony of police officer over testimony from 14-year-old student. Record showed that both jurors also indicated that they would keep open mind and judge case based on evidence admitted at trial, and neither juror evinced irrational bias that would prevent them from ruling impartially in case. Dist. Ct. also did not err in failing to admit photographs of plaintiff’s arrest allegedly taken from cell-phone of another individual where plaintiff could not authenticate said photographs and where photographs portrayed only small part of incident.