The internet is buzzing again. You've probably seen the headlines or a stray post on X (formerly Twitter) about the pardon Derek Chauvin petition. It feels like 2020 all over again, only this time the battlefield is digital and legal. People are heated. Some say he was a sacrificial lamb to stop the riots. Others argue he’s exactly where he belongs. Honestly, it’s a mess of legal technicalities and raw emotion that most of us can barely untangle.
But here’s the kicker: even if a petition gets ten million signatures, the law doesn't care about a "Like" button. There is a massive gap between what a viral petition claims and what can actually happen in a courtroom or a governor’s office.
The Reality of the Pardon Derek Chauvin Petition
Most of these petitions are popping up on platforms like Change.org or dedicated conservative sites. Ben Shapiro and Elon Musk have recently fanned the flames, with Shapiro calling the conviction a "defining achievement of the Woke movement." That’s a heavy statement. It basically turned a local murder trial into a national litmus test for your politics.
The petition being pushed by conservative circles essentially asks for a full pardon and immediate release. It’s got thousands of signatures. But you have to ask: who are they even asking?
Federal vs. State: The Wall Nobody Sees
This is where things get tricky. Derek Chauvin isn't just serving one sentence; he’s serving two. They run at the same time—concurrently, in legal speak.
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- The State Sentence: 22.5 years for second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.
- The Federal Sentence: 21 years for violating George Floyd’s civil rights (and the rights of a 14-year-old in a separate 2017 case).
If you’re signing a petition to the President of the United States, you’re only talking about the federal side. Donald Trump, or whoever sits in the Oval Office, has zero power to touch the state conviction. None. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is the only one who could handle a state pardon, and considering his history with this case, the odds are basically zero.
A presidential pardon for Chauvin would be purely symbolic. He’d still be sitting in a cell in Big Spring, Texas (where he was moved after that brutal stabbing incident in Arizona), because the state of Minnesota still has its hooks in him.
Why is This Coming Up Now?
Timing is everything. In late 2025, Chauvin filed a fresh petition for postconviction relief in Hennepin County. This isn't just a "pardon me" note; it’s a legal document. He’s arguing that his rights were "destroyed" during the original trial.
His lawyers are digging into some specific, and honestly pretty technical, arguments:
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- Medical Methodology: They’re claiming the medical testimony about George Floyd’s cause of death was faulty.
- The "Wrestling Match": The new petition describes the encounter as a "full-blown wrestling match" and argues that Chauvin was following MPD training.
- False Testimony: They are accusing high-ranking officials, including former Chief Medaria Arradondo, of providing false testimony regarding what was actually taught at the academy.
It’s a bold move. They’ve even got affidavits from 57 current and former officers who say the knee-to-neck move was actually a standard, trained tactic. Whether a judge buys that is a different story. Judge Paul Scoggin is currently taking this under advisement, and the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office—led by Keith Ellison—is expected to fire back by January 2026.
The Human Side of the Paperwork
Behind the pardon Derek Chauvin petition are real people who feel the system failed. They look at the 2023 prison stabbing—where Chauvin was knifed 22 times by a former Mexican Mafia member—and see a man being "left to die." They see the $9 million settlements Minneapolis paid to other people Chauvin allegedly "kneel-choked" and they see a pattern of the city trying to wash its hands of a culture they created.
Then there’s the other side. George Floyd’s family, represented by voices like Al Sharpton and Floyd’s brother Terrance, see these petitions as a "spit in the face." To them, the video is the only evidence that matters. Nine minutes and twenty-nine seconds. They view the pardon movement as a rewrite of history.
The Odds are Long
If you’re looking for a realistic outcome, don't hold your breath.
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The U.S. Supreme Court already passed on hearing his appeal in 2023. Usually, when the high court says "no thanks," the legal road becomes a dead end. This new 2025/2026 push for postconviction relief is a "Hail Mary" pass. It’s hard. It’s expensive. And most of the time, judges don't like to second-guess a jury unless there is a massive "smoking gun" of new evidence.
What You Can Actually Do
If you're following the pardon Derek Chauvin petition because you care about justice reform—from either side—don't just sign a digital form and call it a day. Those forms usually just collect your email for marketing.
Instead, look at the actual court filings. You can track the Minnesota Judicial Branch’s public access site for case 27-CR-20-12646. Read the "Register of Actions." It’s dry, it’s boring, but it’s the truth.
If you want to influence the pardon process, you have to look at the Minnesota Board of Pardons. This board consists of the Governor, the Attorney General, and the Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. It requires a unanimous vote to grant a pardon in Minnesota.
Think about that. Ellison, the guy who prosecuted Chauvin, would have to vote "yes." Walz, the guy who called in the National Guard, would have to vote "yes."
Practical Next Steps:
- Read the Filings: Stop getting your news from 30-second clips. Read the actual 2025 petition for postconviction relief to understand the "training" argument.
- Monitor the Board of Pardons: Watch for the next meeting of the Minnesota Board of Pardons to see if any high-profile cases are actually being added to the docket.
- Understand Jurisdiction: Before supporting any clemency movement, verify if it’s targeting the state or federal level. A federal pardon won't open the cell door for a state murder conviction.