Derek Chauvin seeks dismissal of charges in George Floyd case

Derek Chauvin’s legal team has filed a 31-page petition in Hennepin County seeking to dismiss all charges and vacate his convictions related to the death of George Floyd. Attorney Greg Joseph argues that the prosecution was built on a foundation lacking legal standing due to procedural violations.

The filing alleges that Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office engaged in “unlawful and fraudulent conduct.” A central claim is that a grand jury was never convened to review the state’s evidence, which Joseph contends means the charges were never lawfully brought and that Judge Peter Cahill lacked jurisdiction over the case.

Additionally, the petition challenges the legality of Governor Walz’s decision to appoint Keith Ellison to lead the prosecution. The defense argues that Ellison used unauthorized authority to add a second-degree murder charge to the complaint. Chauvin is currently serving concurrent sentences for state second-degree murder and federal civil rights violations.