Jussie Smollett’s lawyers ask appellate court to dismiss charges against the actor
Jussie Smollett (Photo by Dominic D via Wikimedia Commons) CHICAGO — Jussie Smollett’s lawyers told an Illinois appellate court Tuesday, Sept.
12 it should toss the former Empire actor’s convictions for staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself in 2019 and then lying about it to Chicago police, arguing that anger over the case led to properly dismissed charges being improperly restored.
Smollett, foregoing his usual three-piece suits in favor of a casual beige jacket and blue jeans, slipped into court for the hour-long oral arguments Tuesday and sat on spectator benches.
He seemed to listen intently, leaning forward to follow the debate before the three-judge panel. Smollett, 41, didn’t speak to reporters after the hearing, and Chicago TV station WGN showed footage of him from behind leaving the court building via an alley, wearing a hat and different coat. “Public outrage against the defendant cannot overrule the rule of law,” one of his lawyers, Nenye Uche, told the panel, referring to how public perception of Smollett turned after police said he created a crime and wasn’t a victim of one.
