U.S. Supreme Court rejects Derek Chauvin’s appeal of murder in the death of George Floyd

November 20, 2023

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday rejected former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin ‘s appeal of his conviction for second-degree murder in the killing of George Floyd (pictured).

The justices did not comment in leaving in place state court rulings affirming Chauvin’s conviction and 22 1/2-year sentence.

Chauvin’s lawyers argued that their client was denied a fair trial in 2021 because of pretrial publicity and concerns for violence in the event of an acquittal.

Floyd died on May 25, 2020, after Chauvin pressed a knee on his neck for 9 1/2 minutes on the street outside a convenience store where Floyd tried to pass a counterfeit $20 bill.

Floyd’s death touched off protests worldwide, some of which turned violent, including the torching of a Minneapolis police precinct station.

Chauvin is separately appealing his conviction on federal civil rights charges.