Supreme Court declines to hear appeal of former cop convicted of killing George Floyd

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on Monday declined to consider the appeal of former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin’s conviction for second-degree murder in the death of George Floyd.

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 riots and protests worldwide.

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