Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin will not get
a public defender as the Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday denied his
request regarding the same as he appeals his murder conviction and sentence in
the death of George Floyd.

The state’s high court said that Chauvin has not established
that he is entitled to a public defender.

The justices made that decision after reviewing information
about Chauvin’s debts and assets, as well as the Office of the Minnesota
Appellate Public Defender’s prior determination that Chauvin was ineligible,
Chief Justice Lorie Gildea wrote, according to the Associated Press.

But the court has left the door open for Chauvin to seek a
public defender in the future, saying that he can ask for one if he’s unable to
pay for a lawyer.

Chauvin filed documents last month saying he intends to
appeal his conviction and sentence on 14 grounds, including that his trial
should have been moved from Hennepin County and the jury should have been
sequestered.

Chauvin also filed an affidavit saying he has no attorney in
the appeals process and has no income aside from nominal prison wages. The
Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association’s legal defense fund paid for
his case before Judge Peter Cahill. Chauvin wrote: “I have been informed
that their obligation to pay for my representation terminated upon my
conviction and sentencing.”

Chauvin was convicted in April on state charges of second-degree
unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in
Floyd’s 2020 death. He was sentenced to 22 1/2 years.

Chauvin is charged in federal court with violating Floyd’s
civil rights when he knelt on the Black man’s neck for about 9 1/2 minutes as
Floyd was facedown on the pavement, not resisting and pleading for air. He has
pleaded not guilty to those charges.