OPINION
The Chauvin Case Deserves Honest Debate, Not Slogans
By the Faithful Herald editors. This is opinion. Every factual claim below links to a public record or to news reporting.
George Floyd's death on May 25, 2020 was a tragedy. He was a son, a father and a man made in the image of God. Whatever you think of the verdict, that should come first. Christians can grieve a death and still ask hard questions about how justice was done. Here are the facts on both sides, and then our view.
What the official record says
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide. It listed the cause as "cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression." It listed "arteriosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease; fentanyl intoxication; recent methamphetamine use" as other significant conditions. The office added that manner of death "is not a legal determination of culpability or intent." (Hennepin County ME press release, June 1, 2020)
The full autopsy by Dr. Andrew Baker found severe heart disease and an enlarged heart. It also found "no life-threatening injuries," with no injuries to the neck muscles or larynx and no petechiae. (Hennepin County autopsy report)
The competing findings
- The family's independent autopsy. Drs. Michael Baden and Allecia Wilson, hired by the Floyd family, concluded he died of asphyxia from neck and back compression. That differed from the county's findings. (PBS/AP, June 1, 2020; NPR)
- Dr. Baker at trial. He stood by his homicide ruling. He testified that heart disease and fentanyl contributed but were not the direct cause, and that the restraint "was just more than Mr. Floyd could take" given his heart. (CNN, April 9, 2021; AP)
- Dr. Martin Tobin (prosecution). The pulmonologist testified that Floyd died from a low level of oxygen and that "a healthy person subjected to what Mr. Floyd was subjected to would have died." (AP)
- Dr. David Fowler (defense). The former Maryland chief medical examiner testified that Floyd died of a sudden heart rhythm disturbance from heart disease. He named drugs and possible carbon monoxide from vehicle exhaust as contributing factors and said he would have ruled the manner "undetermined." (AP; Star Tribune)
The jury heard all of this and convicted Chauvin of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. (Reuters) He separately pleaded guilty to federal civil-rights charges. (MPR News)
The fair-trial questions
- Venue and publicity. Judge Peter Cahill denied defense motions to move the trial, delay it, or fully sequester the jury. (Minnesota Court of Appeals opinion)
- The $27 million settlement. The city of Minneapolis announced its settlement with the Floyd estate on March 12, 2021, in the middle of jury selection. The judge recalled seven seated jurors to question them about it. (Court of Appeals opinion)
- Political pressure. Judge Cahill called Rep. Maxine Waters' comments urging protesters to "get more confrontational" "abhorrent." He said they might give the defense grounds for an appeal, but he denied a mistrial. (NPR, April 19, 2021; AP)
- A juror's disclosure. The appeal also raised a juror-misconduct claim involving juror Brandon Mitchell. (Court of Appeals opinion)
- The appeals. The Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction on April 17, 2023. The Minnesota Supreme Court declined review on July 18, 2023, and the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari on November 20, 2023. (U.S. Supreme Court docket 23-416) In August 2026, Chauvin's lawyers filed a third state post-conviction petition, challenging the attorney general's appointment and the lack of a grand jury. (MPR News)
The pardon push
Some conservatives have urged President Trump to pardon Chauvin. In May 2025 the President said he was not considering it. (The Hill; Star Tribune) Even if he did, a presidential pardon reaches only the federal case. The Minnesota murder conviction would stand. (See MPR News on the separate state and federal cases.)
Our view
We believe the defense raised serious concerns. A trial was held in a city that had just been through riots, a historic settlement was announced during jury selection, and a member of Congress made remarks that the judge himself called possible grounds for appeal. Those deserved more weight than they got. The medical evidence was also genuinely disputed among qualified experts. Equal justice means even an unpopular defendant gets the full benefit of the doubt on these questions.
We also respect that a jury heard 45 witnesses, and that every appellate court to review the case upheld the verdict. Nobody should use this case to stir up anger toward any race, community or the police. The right response is to support fair trials everywhere, venue changes when a community is under pressure, and courts that are shielded from politicians. And we should pray for the Floyd family, for the Chauvin family, and for Minneapolis.
"Blessed are the peacemakers" (Matthew 5:9, KJV).