# Minnesota trial of Derek Chauvin (killer of George Floyd) reactions **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 30, 2021, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024 "2021-03-30T13:14:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 52
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/1023 "2021-12-15T16:52:13Z")
> Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, pleaded guilty Wednesday to separate federal charges that he violated Floyd’s civil rights. > > As part of a plea deal, Chauvin pleaded guilty to one count of violating Floyd’s civil rights and to one count of violating the rights of a 14-year-old in a separate case. Prosecutors said other related charges to those cases would be dismissed. > **[Derek Chauvin pleads guilty to violating George Floyd’s civil rights](https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/12/15/derek-chauvin-trial-federal-charges/)** > > Prosecutors said they would recommend a sentence of 300 months in federal prison, to be served concurrently with his sentence for his murder conviction. Thus essentially no additional punishment for the federal crimes, since the sentence is to be served concurrently. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/1024 "2021-12-15T17:06:33Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Thus essentially no additional punishment for the federal crimes, since the sentence is to be served concurrently. But it means the state court appeal isn’t going to matter as much. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/1025 "2021-12-15T17:24:20Z")
I think the state court appeal was something of a long shot anyway, am I right ? ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/1026 "2021-12-15T17:37:47Z")
This seems to indicate that Derek Chauvin and his team seem to think so. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/1027 "2021-12-15T17:43:02Z")
Isn’t the guilty plea (which he probably to cop in order to get a concurrent sentence) going to put a big black cloud over his head in any civil proceeding? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/1028 "2021-12-15T17:45:17Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > Isn’t the guilty plea (which he probably to cop in order to get a concurrent sentence) going to put a big black cloud over his head in any civil proceeding ? I thought the family settled their civil suit? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/1029 "2021-12-15T17:46:29Z")
They settled with the city. Did that include actions against tChauvin? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/1030 "2021-12-15T17:50:04Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > They settled with the city. Did that include actions against tChauvin ? Not necessarily (but likely since the city’s liability was primarily vicarious), but they got millions from the city and Chauvin is probably judgment proof. (i.e., poor) The city either got a release that covered him, or the family will probably just let it drop. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/1031 "2021-12-15T18:29:33Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Not necessarily (but likely since the city’s liability was primarily vicarious), but they got millions from the city and Chauvin is probably judgment proof. (i.e., poor) He actually had fairly decent assets but he divorced his wife and she got everything in the divorce. Obviously this was to protect the assets. There is a separate case involving that and tax evasion. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/1032 "2021-12-15T18:45:48Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > He actually had fairly decent assets but he divorced his wife and she got everything in the divorce. Obviously this was to protect the assets. Compared to $27M, I doubt he had much even before hiding his assets. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/1033 "2021-12-15T19:22:21Z")
The federal sentence is 300 months–25 years. In terms of actual time served how does this compare with what he will actually serve in state prison? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/1034 "2021-12-15T19:45:54Z")
According to my memory, federal inmates serve 85% of their sentence ETA: Because of “good time” credit, which I assume he’ll get. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/1035 "2021-12-15T20:04:03Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > Isn’t the guilty plea (which he probably to cop in order to get a concurrent sentence) going to put a big black cloud over his head in any civil proceeding? Is he going to care? I suspect his retirement needs will be fully met by the government, state or federal, and he wasn’t going to stand much of a chance in a civil suit anyway. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/1036 "2021-12-15T21:45:31Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > According to my memory, federal inmates serve 85% of their sentence > ETA: Because of “good time” credit, which I assume he’ll get. And how much can he expect to serve in Minnesota state prisons? ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/1037 "2021-12-15T21:58:39Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Thus essentially no additional punishment for the federal crimes, since the sentence is to be served concurrently. I wish they wouldn’t do this for such a serious set of crimes. I understand the reasons they do it, it just seems wrong to me. It’s like commit one crime. get another crime free. > [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > I suspect his retirement needs will be fully met by the government, state or federal, and he wasn’t going to stand much of a chance in a civil suit anyway. I think , as said above, he has charges pending for trying to hide money thru his divorce. Does anyone know if his police pension (if he has one) is secure from civil forfeiture? > [@PastTense](#): > > And how much can he expect to serve in Minnesota state prisons? I think it said 2/3, in his case 17 years. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/1038 "2021-12-15T22:09:35Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > I wish they wouldn’t do this for such a serious set of crimes. I understand the reasons they do it, it just seems wrong to me. It’s like commit one crime. get another crime free. I disagree, this is too much like double jeopardy to me. Chauvin murdered a man. That is the crime. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/1039 "2021-12-15T22:13:30Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > I think it said 2/3, in his case 17 years. If this is true then he might have to serve 4 years or so in Federal Prison: (25 \* .85) = 21.25 years Federal - 17 years State = 4.25 years in Federal Prison after he spends 17 years in state. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/1040 "2021-12-15T22:16:41Z")
No, the federal charges are different. They are all about violating George Floyd’s civil rights. That’s their jurisdiction and seems totally justified to me. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/1041 "2021-12-15T22:49:57Z")
He killed him, and thereby deprived him of civil rights? It’s a real stretch to call that a distinct crime. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/1042 "2021-12-15T23:09:52Z")
But the federal charges were more specific, including not getting him medical care and kneeling on his neck when he was already secured. It also includes another case where he choked and beat a 14 year old with his flashlight. I think civil rights violations are very important to prosecute when they are being violated by members of the government. Sometimes civil rights cases are the only way police officers are punished at all, since local prosecutors and juries have a long track record of not prosecuting police for their crimes. > [@Procrustus](#): > > According to my memory, federal inmates serve 85% of their sentence > ETA: Because of “good time” credit, which I assume he’ll get. I read there was no parole in the federal system. Is “good time” different from parole? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024.md?page=51) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024.md?page=53)