Supreme Court rejects Derek Chauvin’s appeal

George Floyd was a black man who was killed on May 25, 2020, after Derek Chauvin, a white Minneapolis police officer, knelt on his neck for about ten minutes. Bystander-recorded killings like Floyd’s set off what may have been the biggest protest movement in American history and a national conversation about policing and racism.

Many believe that Floyd’s death was a result of wrongful and racist actions by the police officer, highlighting concerns about racial profiling and excessive use of force. 

Days and months after the murder, a new uprising in the Black Lives Matter Movement occurred. Floyd’s death was seen as an awakening to the fact that there was still so much racial injustice occurring in society. Due to Floyd’s murder occurring under police custody, a huge uproar started against the police.  

One year later, in April of 2021, Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd’s death. 

The Minnesota sentencing guidelines ranged from 10 years and eight months to 15 years, but Chauvin received a sentence of 22 and a half years in jail. He was able to reduce his sentence to 21 years in jail nonetheless.

In an attempt to overturn his conviction, Chauvin recently argued in his appeal that he was not given a fair trial and that the jurors may have been biased against acquittal because they feared the case would spark further unrest and bloodshed.

The state district court denied the former officer’s plea for a change of venue, depriving him of his right to a fair trial in spite of “pervasive adverse publicity,” according to Chauvin’s attorneys, among other reasons to reverse his conviction. However, the Supreme Court rejected Chauvin’s appeal without comment or a recorded vote.

It is important to emphasize the need for fair treatment and justice for all individuals, regardless of their race or appearance. Public discussions and actions have focused on addressing systemic issues within law enforcement to prevent similar tragedies in the future.