An Illinois court has overturned Jussie Smollett’s conviction. The actor was charged with orchestrating and executing a hate crime hoax that disturbed public peace in 2019. However, in a recent hearing, the court found that due process wasn’t followed in the original hearing, which was an infraction of Smollett’s rights.
Jussie Smollett’s Conviction Overturned
In a shocking twist, Empire alum Jussie Smollett received a second chance after an Illinois court reversed his conviction. Smollett was acquitted on Thursday after the judges found that the original conviction did not follow due process. In the initial trial, Cook County Prosecutor Attorney Kim Foxx dropped all charges against the actor and recused herself from the case. However, the judge appointed a special prosecutor to retry Smollett, violating the rule of law.
The judges noted that the 42-year-old singer’s case had generated notable buzz, and several people thought the first trial was not fairly resolved. They opined that the real injustice would be “a holding from this court that the State was not bound to honor agreements upon which people have detrimentally relied.”
Jussie Smollett Retried After Plea Deal
Jussie Smollett’s conviction was overturned based on a technicality that proved the court did not honor an agreement. Foxx, the case’s original prosecutor, was caught texting Smollett’s family members and promising to help them. Consequently, she recused herself and tried to appoint her deputy, Joseph Magats, as her replacement. However, Judge Michael Toomin, who was in charge of the original case, appointed a special prosecutor who retried Smollett since he had not been acquitted nor convicted.
Meanwhile, Smollett, charged with 16 felony counts, had struck a plea deal with Foxx’s office. He agreed to forgo his $10,000 bond and serve 15 hours of community service, which he completed. However, he was slammed with new felony charges and sentenced to 150 days in county jail.
Smollett’s Lawyers Appeal His Conviction
The Magnus; 2014 actor’s lawyers helped him get an early release when they appealed the decision. Meanwhile, regarding Jussie Smollett’s recent overturned conviction, his lawyer, Nenye Uche, agreed with the judges’ decision, writing:
“This was not a prosecution based on facts, rather it was a vindictive persecution and such a proceeding has no place in our criminal justice system. Ultimately, we are pleased that the rule of law was the big winner today.”
Jussie Smollett’s Charges
Chicago Police accused Jussie Smollett in 2019 of staging a hate crime to advance his career. The actor, who is black and gay, had reported that he was a victim of racism and homophobic attacks. On January 29, 2019, he claimed to have been attacked by two men who hung a noose around his neck and shouted racist and homophobic slurs. However, police claimed that the actor arranged for and paid the men to attack him.
Consequently, Smollett was charged with 16 counts of felony based on disorderly conduct, including that of filing a false police report. Meanwhile, Smollett has repeatedly denied the accusations. He also entered into rehab in 2023.
While shocking, Jussie Smollett’s overturned conviction has given him a new lease. Hopefully, the A Little Piece of Heaven actor will reflect on this opportunity and use it well.
#Clique, what do you think of Jussie Smollett’s overturned conviction? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
