Judge To Allow Cameras In Court For Jussie Smollett’s Next Hearing
Today (Mar. 12), actor and singer Jussie Smollett appeared in court in Chicago for a hearing that addressed allowing cameras in the courtroom during his next hearing.
Jussie Smollett and legal team arrives for hearing about cameras in the court room.
— Charlie De Mar (@CharlieDeMar) March 12, 2019
He is choosing to be here. Not required. @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/pP6eVBFzqK
CBS Chicago‘s Charlie De Mar tweeted a video of the Empire star arriving in court. The actor chose to be present, but he was not required, according to De Mar.
Cameras will be allowed in the courtroom when a trial judge is assigned to Smollett’s case on disorderly conduct charges, according to CBS Chicago.
Although the judge decided to allow cameras in the courtroom during Smollett’s upcoming hearing, it is ultimately up to the trial judge to create rules for press coverage of the R&B singer’s upcoming hearings. Cook County Criminal court Presiding Judge LeRoy Martin made the decision.
On Thursday, Mar. 14, a trial judge will be randomly selected to hear the “Powerful” singer’s case, and later the same day the actor will be arraigned.
Smollett’s two brothers and his sister-in-law appeared in court with the actor.
The actor’s legal team said that they welcome cameras in court as a way to counteract “misinformation” that they say has been leaked to the press since Smollett first reported being attacked in the Windy City in January.
Chicago police and prosecutors deemed the alleged racist and homophobic attack fake, but the actor and singer’s lawyers said they want the public to see the evidence or lack thereof.
“We look forward to complete transparency and the truth coming out,” Smollett’s attorney Tina Glandian said after the hearing.
On Friday (Mar. 8), the star was indicted on 16 counts of disorderly conduct for allegedly lying to two separate police officers about the alleged hate crime, which supposedly took place on Jan. 29.
Each count is for various acts that the actor allegedly lied about. Smollett said that he was hit by two men, they poured an unknown chemical on him, and that they yelled homophobic and racial epithets at the actor.
Glennisha Morgan is a Detroit-bred multimedia journalist and writer. She writes about intersectionality, hip-hop, pop culture, queer issues, race, feminism, and her truth. Follow her on Twitter @GlennishaMorgan
