Lil Durk has received a total of four superseding indictments in his murder-for-hire case, showing the weight and severity of these charges. But despite an uphill battle, he and his legal team continue to fight every detail they believe could hinder his chance at a fair trial.
According to an exclusive AllHipHop report from Grouchy Greg Watkins, Durk and his lawyers just filed court documents in opposition to prosecutors' request for a gag order in the case. If Judge Michael Fitzgerald sides with the prosecution, the defense would not be able to make public comments about the case's strengths and weaknesses, evidence, or about witnesses.
The Chicago rapper's legal team reportedly countered by arguing prosecutors have already pushed their narrative via public statements. These include the aforementioned indictments and press releases from the United States Justice Department. "The government should not be permitted to throw rocks and then hide its hands," Smurk's attorneys reportedly wrote.
Furthermore, they believe the judge should not intervene by issuing a federal gag order. "Counsel for both parties are ethical and professional. The Court should deny the government’s motion as unnecessary and unripe," they added.
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Prosecutors want a potential gag order to minimize the effect courthouse comments, Durk's Instagram posts, and interviews with lawyers on the case. They believe these statements may taint an impartial jury selection, which will begin on August 20 if everything goes according to the current schedule.
On the other hand, Lil Durk's legal team accused prosecutors of including media-ready allegations in their indictments. They reportedly pointed to an unreleased music video, allegedly tailing a vehicle, and photos of masked men with guns as examples. His lawyers the jury will never see some of those allegations, but that the damage done in the public eye is enough. "It would be unfair to hamstring the defense in a way that the government has not limited itself," they reportedly wrote.
As an alternative, the defense said Judge Fitzgerald may feel compelled to limit a gag order to witness comments, character attacks, and statements on evidence the court ruled as inadmissible. The judge will hear arguments over the gag order request on Thursday (August 13). Then, on August 20, the trial will begin its jury selection process after Durk has spent nearly 22 months behind bars.
