Who Is Eric Nelson, Derek Chauvin's Attorney In Floyd's Death

MINNEAPOLIS — The murder case against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd was certain to draw national and even global media attention. However, for the first time in Minnesota's history, the public has access to a live broadcast of the trial, making it even more of a spectacle.

At the front and center of the trial, which is currently in its second week, is Chauvin's defense attorney, Eric Nelson. Viewers of the trial may be curious about Nelson's background.

Nelson graduated from St. Paul's Hamline University School of Law and began practicing law in 2001. He was selected as a "rising star" by the website Super Lawyers in 2005.

Nelson is an attorney and founding partner at Bloomington-based Halberg Criminal Defense.

According to his bio, Nelson has represented clients involved in homicide, sex offense, drug offense, assault, and DWI cases. He primarily represents clients in Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Scott counties. He is a member of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association.

In 2011, Nelson represented Amy Senser — the wife of former Minnesota Vikings player Joe Senser — after she was charged with vehicular homicide. Senser struck and killed a man on an Interstate 94 ramp in Minneapolis in August 2011 and did not stop at the scene, police said.

Senser was convicted of vehicular homicide and sentenced to 41 months in prison. Nelson told the media afterward that he was "disappointed in the verdict."

Nelson is a member of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association. The union hired Nelson to represent Chauvin after the former officer was charged with murder.

Chauvin, Nelson, Amy Voss — a licensed attorney assisting Nelson — are the only three members of the defense seen in court. However, Nelson is backed up by at least 12 other attorneys and a $1 million legal fund established by the MPPOA, reports USA Today.

Watch a live stream of the trial Wednesday below: