By Garrett Owen/FMHipHop
Jussie Smollett is back in court
Yesterday, Wednesday, July 14, former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett found himself back in the court room. Media, law enforcement, and legal teams assembled at the George M. Leighton Criminal Court in Chicago for another hearing. This time, however, all eyes were on someone else: his lawyer.
Nenye Uche, the main attorney for Jussie Smollett, is facing disqualification from the case. This stems from a possible conversation he had with two key witnesses in the case. The two witnesses in question are the brothers Ambimbola “Abel” and Olabinjo “Ola” Osundairo, the very men alleged to have participated in Smollett’s staged attack. Mr. Uche has denied ever speaking to the brothers, much less on issues relating to the case.
The conflict of interest was raised last March by the attorney for the Osundairo brothers, Gloria Rodriguez. According to her, the brothers remember talking to Mr. Uche after they were arrested. At the time, it is alleged that Mr. Uche gathered confidential information from and about them, in case he represented them. Mr. Uche has denied this. Rather, he admits to talking to their mother over the phone, but presumed the conversation was private.
“I don’t know who was there, where she was calling from and who was there,” Mr. Uche told Judge Linn.
“You cannot have the person who had a confidential conversation with you now cross examine you,” said Dan Webb, Special Prosecutor for the brothers.
Results from Wednesday
Unfortunately, no one is sure as to exactly what happened in the hearing yesterday. Indeed, media and news sources were barred from attending, as per orders from the court under Judge James Linn.
As attorneys exited the courtroom late on Wednesday, they confirmed that Judge Linn will make his decision at a later date.
The date for Smollett’s next hearing in his criminal case, People v. Jussie Smollett, is scheduled August 2, via a spokesperson for the court.
For more of FMHipHop’s coverage of courtroom news, click here.
Garrett Owen:
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