The Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to reconsider a state appeal court ruling that said a third-degree murder charge against the former Minneapolis police officer accused of killing George Floyd was wrongly rejected.
Derek Chauvin already faces charges of wrongful death and wrongful death. Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill, who is presiding over the trial, previously rejected an additional third-degree murder charge.
Cahill will now be tasked with determining the fate of the third-degree murder charge against Chauvin. At the end of Wednesday’s proceedings, Cahill said he would resolve the situation the next morning.
“It appears that the Supreme Court has denied reviewing the defendant’s petition to review the appeals court’s opinion,” Cahill said in court on Wednesday. “I think we can talk about it tomorrow morning at 8 am about its effect. I think we still have the jurisdictional issue with the Court of Appeals.”
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison
Keith Ellison Jury selection begins at Derek Chauvin trial in Floyd’s death Jury selection delayed at Derek Chauvin murder trial Court of appeal orders judge to reconsider third-degree murder charge in Floyd case, whose office is processing the high-profile case, praised the court’s decision, calling the third-degree murder charge “fair and appropriate.”
“The Supreme Court was right to refuse Mr. Chauvin’s petition for review,” said Ellison in a statement. “The Court of Appeals ruled correctly; therefore, there was no need for the Supreme Court to intervene. We believe the 3rd degree murder charge is fair and appropriate. “
He continued, “We look forward to introducing you to the jury, along with the charges of second degree unintentional murder and second degree wrongful murder.”
The news came after a Minnesota appeals court on Friday overturned a lower court decision and paved the way for Ellison to reinstate the third-degree murder charge against Chauvin. Following the court’s decision, Chauvin’s lawyers filed a petition to challenge the decision.
The Supreme Court decision came at the end of the second day of jury selection for Chauvin’s trial. So far, five jurors have been seated: three white men, a woman of color and a black man, according to NBC News. The royal trial is scheduled to begin on March 29.
Chauvin is the officer who is seen kneeling on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes in the May 2020 viral video.