Derek Chauvin Makes Court Appearance, 'Financially Unable’ To Hire Attorney

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin made a court appearance on Tuesday (June 1) for the federal civil rights violation charges he currently faces in connection with George Floyd’s murder last May. Chauvin is also facing civil rights charges for the violent arrest of a 14-year-old boy in 2017 in which prosecutors say Chauvin knelt on the boy’s back for 17 minutes and hit him in the head with a flashlight. 

According to reports, Chauvin attended the hearing virtually from the maximum-security prison in Minnesota where he’s currently awaiting sentencing.

Chauvin waived his right to a detention hearing and will be in federal custody, though he will remain at the state prison, WRAL.com reported. “In light of my current circumstances, I think that would be a moot point,” Chauvin told the judge.

In a court filing, Insider reported that US Magistrate Judge Becky Thorson wrote that she determined Chauvin was “financially unable” to hire an attorney, and was appointing Eric Nelson, Chauvin’s defense attorney in his state trial, for the federal case, too. 

Chauvin hasn’t entered a plea for the civil rights charges nor has an arraignment hearing been scheduled. Sentencing for the murder conviction is set for later this month. 

Photo: Getty Images


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