US Supreme Court Denies Derek Chauvin's Appeal In George Floyd Killing

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday announced it will not consider the appeal of former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin, who was convicted in state court of second-degree murder in the death of George Floyd.

Chauvin's lawyers argued that he was not given a fair trial in the spring of 2021 because of the publicity of the case and potential threats against the jury's safety if they acquitted him of the charges.

Following his conviction, Chauvin was sentenced by Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill to 22 and 1/2 years of prison.

Months after the state trial, the former officer pleaded guilty to federal civil rights charges in Floyd's death and was sentenced to 22 years in prison.

Last week, Chauvin filed a motion challenging his federal conviction, arguing that new evidence recently brought to light proves he did not kill Floyd.

Chauvin's federal and state sentences run concurrently. He is currently housed at a federal prison in Arizona.

Meanwhile, three other former Minneapolis officers are serving much smaller sentences for their roles in Floyd's death.

Reporting from the Associated Press was used in this story.