A United States Magistrate Judge on Tuesday appointed attorney Eric J. Nelson to represent convicted murderer Derek Chauvin in a separate and ongoing federal civil rights proceedings connected to the death of George Floyd, Jr., and another matter. Nelson previously represented Chauvin during his state-level criminal trial. “The Court has determined that based upon the information received, the defendant in the above matter is financially unable to employ counsel and finds that it is in the interest of justice that counsel be assigned,” wrote judge Becky R. Thorsonin a one-page document. “IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Eric J. Nelson . . . is appointed as counsel pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3006A.”