Illinois Supreme Court to hear actor Jussie Smollett appeal of conviction for staging racist attack
The Illinois Supreme Court has agreed to review actor Jussie Smollett’s appeal of his disorderly conduct conviction related to orchestrating a fake racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019, followed by providing false information to Chicago police, according to an Associated Press (AP) report.
The report indicated that in a decision made on Wednesday, the court accepted Smollett’s appeal, who was previously known for his role in the television series “Empire.” This review follows a December ruling by a state appellate court, which upheld Smollett’s conviction by a Cook County jury in 2021.
“The case kicked up an international uproar and produced an intensive manhunt by Chicago police detectives. There is no date set for the high court to hear arguments in the matter,” the report said.
“A special prosecutor refiled charges against Smollett after Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx dropped the case and Smollett forfeited his $10,000 bond and conducted community service, which Smollett argues ended the case,” it read.
The AP added that in a split decision of 2-1, the state’s First District Appellate Court dismissed Smollett’s claims, stating that no assurances were given to him that he wouldn’t face renewed prosecution after accepting the initial deal. Justice Freddrenna Lyle dissented, citing the refiled charges as “fundamentally unfair.”
However, Smollett’s legal team contends that he, as a Black and gay individual, has been subjected to discrimination within a racially biassed and politicised legal system.
During his trial, Smollett was found guilty on five counts of disorderly conduct for orchestrating the staged attack, during which he alleged that two men assaulted him on a Chicago street, hurling slurs and referencing “MAGA country,” an apparent nod to former President Donald Trump’s campaign slogan. Testimony revealed that Smollett had paid $3,500 to two individuals he knew from the “Empire” series, which was filmed in Chicago, to carry out the attack. Despite evidence presented, Smollett maintained on the stand that there was no hoax.
He was sentenced to 150 days in jail, serving six days before being released pending appeal, placed on 30 months of probation, and ordered to pay $130,160 in restitution.
