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."
Attorney William Mohrman filed a document with the court Friday saying he would represent Chauvin in his appeal. 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 in prison.
He earned his Juris Doctor from from Hamline University School of Law before he began exclusively practicing criminal defense law. According to his colleagues, Nelson has approached his cases with nerves of steel and is recognized as one of "the best defense attorneys."
Derek Chauvin have given a starring role to a little-known criminal defense lawyer, Eric Nelson, who is representing the former Minneapolis police officer charged in George Floyd's death. Inside the courtroom, coronavirus-related social distancing rules limit the number of people present on each side.
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.
Eric Nelson was both on October 30, 1971 in Anniston, Alabama to Brian and Carole Nelson. The second of three children. Eric's older brother, Ryan, passed away before Eric was born. Eric has a younger sister, Jennifer, and was raised in a military family until his parents divorced at the age of seven.
Away from the lighter moments, Nelson has appeared well-prepared even as he goes up against a prosecution team many times larger. He has gone hard and consistently at his chief message: that Floyd's consumption of illegal drugs is to blame for his death, rather than something Chauvin did.
Nelson received his bachelor's degree in business administration in 1989 from the University of Wisconsin – Madison (where he received the School of Business Distinguished Student Award), and his J.D. degree in 1992 from Yale Law School.
Eric J. NelsonThen this week, Chauvin's defense team — one man, Eric J. Nelson — set out to sow doubt in the jurors' minds, an endeavor that may have been difficult but certainly was not impossible. During his opening statement and witness cross-examination, Nelson laid the groundwork for his three key arguments.
Ravage20191 Night in San Diego2020The StudentComing Through the Rye2015A Walk Among the Tombstones2014Blood Bound2019Eric Nelsen/Appears in
Ben CrumpGeorge Floyd's family and their attorney, Ben Crump, had a busy schedule on Tuesday, the one-year anniversary of Floyd's death under the knee of a now-convicted police officer.
Ben CrumpGeorge Floyd's family and their attorney, Ben Crump, had a busy schedule on Tuesday, the one-year anniversary of Floyd's death under the knee of a now-convicted police officer.
Ravage20191 Night in San Diego2020The StudentComing Through the Rye2015A Walk Among the Tombstones2014Blood Bound2019Eric Nelsen/Appears in