What it’s like to be a reporter in the courtroom during the Derek Chauvin murder trial

“This is the first time an entire trial from start to finish has been filmed,” Sidner, told CNN’s Chief Media Correspondent Brian Stelter on “Reliable Sources” Sunday. She added that the entire courthouse and other nearby government buildings are surrounded by security apparatus, including fencing and barbed wire.

As for the courtroom itself, “Everyone is paying attention in a way that I haven’t seen before,” Sidner said. “There is pin drop silence. You can hear yourself breathe.”

One reason for the “extremely quiet” atmosphere is because attendants are socially distanced, which means the courtroom is not packed with people as it normally would be in a “trial of this magnitude,” Sidner said. There are two seats available for family members — one for the Floyd family and one for the Chauvin family.