The Supreme Court denied former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s appeal of a ruling sentencing him to more than 20 years in prison for the murder of George Floyd.
Chauvin’s legal team filed the appeal earlier last week, arguing that his trial was held during a difficult time in the country, leading to concerns about the jury’s bias.
“Mr. Chauvin’s case shows the profound difficulties trial courts have to ensure a criminal defendant’s right to an impartial jury consistently when extreme cases arise,” the defense told the Supreme Court.
“This was particularly true here when the jurors themselves had a vested interest in finding Mr. Chauvin guilty in order to avoid further rioting in the community in which they lived and the possible threat of physical harm to them or their families.”
Chauvin’s counsel previously argued his trial should have been held in a court outside Minneapolis due to the media coverage the case received.
The former cop was found guilty of second and third-degree murder in April 2021 and he is currently serving his 22.5-year sentence.
From The National Review:
On May 25, 2020, a viral video showed Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck as the suspect struggled to breathe. The incident, which occurred after Floyd was arrested for allegedly using a counterfeit bill, provoked widespread unrest across the U.S. at the time, leading to calls for racial justice and hostility toward police.
