Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted in the 2020 killing of George Floyd, is currently serving a 22.5-year prison sentence tied to both state and federal convictions.
Now, more than four years after the verdict that ended his law enforcement career, the disgraced ex-cop is attempting to reopen his state case by requesting a new trial.
On November 20, Chauvin’s attorney, Gregory Joseph, submitted a 71-page motion in Hennepin County District Court seeking to vacate three convictions, including second-degree murder.
The filing, which was obtained by local NBC affiliate KARE-11 TV on Tuesday, December 2, argues that Chauvin was denied a fair trial due to prosecutorial misconduct, improper jury instructions, and what the defense claims was false or misleading testimony from key witnesses.
In the motion, Joseph asserts that enough time has passed since Floyd’s death and the widespread protests that followed to allow the court to review the case without public pressure. The filing states that the court can now examine the evidence “through a clear lens,” arguing that the original proceedings took place under extraordinary social scrutiny.
At the heart of the request are four main arguments. First, the defense alleges that several high-ranking Minneapolis Police Department officials—including former Police Chief Medaria Arradondo, Inspector Katie Blackwell, and training coordinator Lt. Johnny Mercil—gave inaccurate testimony when they stated that the knee-to-neck restraint used by Chauvin was not part of MPD training and violated department policy.
Second, Chauvin’s attorneys claim that prosecution medical experts based their opinions about Floyd’s cause of death largely on video footage rather than autopsy findings or medical testing. The filing argues that this testimony lacked a proper medical foundation.
Third, the motion challenges the way prosecutors presented video evidence to jurors. The defense points to testimony from Hennepin County Medical Examiner Dr. Andrew Baker, who said Floyd had severe heart disease and fentanyl and methamphetamine in his system, and that he found no physical signs of asphyxia during the autopsy.
Finally, Chauvin’s legal team argues that Judge Peter Cahill misinstructed the jurors on points of law that could have affected the verdict.
The filing also cites a controversial 2022 book by Liz Collin and Dr. J.C. Chaix that questions aspects of the case. According to the motion, since the book’s release, 34 current and former MPD officers have submitted sworn statements claiming the restraint used on Floyd was taught during training and permitted under department policy.
Chauvin is asking the court to order a new trial. If that request is denied, his attorneys are seeking an evidentiary hearing to argue their claims further.