Derek Chauvin’s legal battle took a dramatic turn this week as his attorney, Greg Joseph, filed a sweeping 71-page petition for post-conviction relief—arguing that the original case “never made sense” and that key testimony during the trial misrepresented Minneapolis Police Department training and procedures.
Joseph’s petition, filed Nov. 20 in Hennepin County District Court, centers on two pillars: intent and causation—the same issues that defined Chauvin’s conviction. He argues Chauvin was denied due process and that prosecutors relied heavily on selectively framed video evidence while sidelining conflicting medical findings.
50 Officers Submit Sworn Declarations
In a striking development, 50 former and current MPD officers submitted sworn statements asserting that the restraint technique Chauvin used on George Floyd was part of MPD training, directly contradicting testimony from trial witnesses, including MPD Inspector Katie Blackwell and Chief Medaria Arradondo.
This issue is already entangled in other litigation. Blackwell previously sued Alpha News and journalist Liz Collin over claims about her testimony but lost, with Judge Wahl finding the statements about her were “substantially true.”
Questions Over Expert Testimony
The petition challenges how prosecutors used medical and video experts, especially Dr. Martin Tobin, whose analysis contradicted the findings of Medical Examiner Dr. Andrew Baker—the only doctor who conducted an autopsy. Joseph argues prosecutors strategically used video to “inflame prejudices” while downplaying Baker’s conclusions.
Claims of Prosecutorial Misconduct
Joseph stops short of accusing anyone lightly but states the record shows prosecutors blurred the line between proper and improper expert testimony. According to the filing, this amounted to misconduct that deprived Chauvin of a fair trial.
What Happens Next
The state now has 45 days to respond. If successful, Chauvin could receive a new trial or have his conviction vacated entirely.
Joseph has begun publicly addressing the petition, saying, “you can only run from the truth for so long,” and emphasizing that the evidence should now be viewed “through a clear lens,” free of the frenzy surrounding the 2020 case.
Bottom Line: A Case Derailed by Politics — And a Man Who Paid the Price
In my view and that of other Chauvin supporters who have followed the case closely, Derek Chauvin has become less a defendant and more a symbol, caught in the crossfire of racial politics, public unrest, and a justice system under intense national pressure. To them, Chauvin’s prosecution, trial, and conviction were shaped not by impartial analysis but by the political climate of 2020, a moment when institutions bent under the weight of fear, anger, and expectation.
From this perspective, Chauvin did not receive the neutral legal process that every American is promised. Instead, he became the target of a system desperate to produce a result that would calm a nation in crisis. Those who hold this view argue that the judge, prosecutors, and even the jury operated under unprecedented external pressure, creating conditions incompatible with true justice.
Chauvin deserves to be released. Exonerated. And compensated for his destroyed life and life-threatening injuries received while in custody.
Chauvin was screwed, but even worse, “We the People” were screwed by a failed judicial system that caved to racial politics.
— Steve
Reference: MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF POSTCONVICTION RELIEF (District Court File #27-CR-20-12646)
