Potter's defense is being paid for by the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association legal defense fund. The MPPOA also covered the cost to defend former Minneapolis police officer Chauvin, who was convicted of murdering George Floyd, and will also cover the cost to defend his three fellow former police officers.
Eric J. Nelson is one of a dozen defense lawyers in Minneapolis who work on a rotation basis to represent police officers charged with misconduct. Mr. Nelson, 46, took charge of the former police officer Derek Chauvin's defense over the summer, after his first lawyer retired.
Who is Derek Chauvin's defense attorney Eric Nelson? Eric Nelson, 46, is a founding partner at Halberg Defense, one of the largest criminal defense firms in the region, according to law partner Marsh Halberg.
Judge Peter CahillHennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill sentenced former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin to 22.5 years in prison for the murder of George Floyd. During Friday's hearing, Cahill said his determination was "not based on emotion or sympathy."
46Nelson, 46, handles cases ranging from drunken driving arrests to homicides, and is one of a dozen attorneys who take turns working with a police union legal defense fund to represent officers charged with crimes.
The prosecution team has 13 lawyers, said John Stiles, Ellison's spokesman, and a 14th acted as a jury consultant. Ellison, Frank and Eldridge are the only ones who work in the attorney general's office. The team also includes Assistant Hennepin County Attorney Joshua Larson and nine outside attorneys.
During trial, Chauvin's defense attorney was Eric Nelson. Nelson's law firm partner, Marsh Halberg of Halberg Criminal Defense, confirms that "Mr. Nelson does not represent Mr. Chauvin on the state appeal at this time."
From 2014 through 2019, Eric has been recognized as a Minnesota Super Lawyer. He has previously been named a “Top 40 Under 40” by the National Trial Lawyers and a Top Ten Trial Attorney by the National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys.
Not all bills are in, according to the attorney general's office, but as of Thursday, the attorney general's payout was more than $112,572, not counting salaries. Some private attorneys, many high-profile, work pro bono for the prosecution.