Crime & Safety

Chavuin, Now Representing Himself, Appeals His Murder Conviction

Derek Chauvin was sentenced to over 22 years in prison after he was convicted of murder and manslaughter in George Floyd's death.

​In his appeal, Derek Chauvin ​cites over a dozen reasons for why his conviction should be overturned, including "prejudicial prosecutorial misconduct."
​In his appeal, Derek Chauvin ​cites over a dozen reasons for why his conviction should be overturned, including "prejudicial prosecutorial misconduct." (Minnesota Department of Corrections)

MINNEAPOLIS — Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin Thursday filed an appeal of his murder and manslaughter conviction in the death of George Floyd.

Chauvin is now representing himself. The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association is no longer paying his legal fees, the Star Tribune reports, and Chauvin was denied a public defender.

In his appeal, Chauvin cites over a dozen reasons for why his conviction should be overturned, including "prejudicial prosecutorial misconduct."

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Chauvin also claims that the court "abused its discretion" when it denied his request to sequester the jury during the trial.


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Read all 14 reasons Chauvin cited below:

  1. The District Court abused its discretion when it denied Appellant’s motion for change of venue or a new trial
  2. The District Court abused its discretion when it denied Appellant’s motion for a continuance or a new trial
  3. The District Court abused its discretion when it denied Appellant’s motions to sequester the jury throughout the trial
  4. The State committed prejudicial prosecutorial misconduct
  5. The District Court prejudicially erred when it concluded that the testimony of Morries Hall, or in the alternative Mr. Hall’s statements to law enforcement, did not fall under Minn. R. Evid. 804(b) and was not a violation of Appellant’s constitutional confrontation rights
  6. The District Court prejudicially erred when it permitted the State to present cumulative evidence with respect to use of force
  7. The District Court abused its discretion when it ordered the State to lead witnesses on direct examination;
  8. The District Court abused its discretion when it failed to make an official record of the numerous sidebar conferences that occurred during trials
  9. The District Court abused its discretion when it failed to allow Appellant to exercise several cause strikes for clearly biased jurors during voir dire
  10. The District Court abused its discretion when it permitted the State amend its complaint to add the charge of third-degree murder
  11. The District Court abused its discretion when it strictly limited and undercut the admissibility of George Floyd’s May 6, 2019 arrest
  12. The District Court abused its discretion when it submitted instructions to the jury that materially misstated the law
  13. The District Court abused its discretion when it by denying Appellant’s motion for a Schwartz hearing
  14. The District Court abused its discretion when it denied Appellant’s post-verdict motion for a new trial due to juror misconduct.

In June, Chauvin was sentenced to serve 22 years and six months in prison after he was convicted in Floyd's death. Chauvin now faces federal civil rights charges.

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