The Philadelphia Supreme Court chooses to retain Judge Genece Brinkley to oversee the ongoing case of Meek Mill despite the rapper's protests.
Supreme Court Denies Appeal To Remove Judge Brinkley
On Tuesday, June 12, the justices spoke about and decided on the motion to remove the controversial judge from the case prior to the rap artist's hearing on Monday, June 18. Sources claim that the decision was split, with one side voting to grant Mill's request.
In a statement to HipHopDX, Justice Max Bear, who sided with the Philadelphia-born rapper's appeal, said that Judge Brinkley should not continue to be involved in the case.
"I believe Judge Genece Brinkley should have disqualified herself," he said. "[A]s her continued involvement has created an appearance of impropriety that tends to undermine public confidence in the judiciary."
Mill's legal camp has been protesting Judge Brinkley for months now, citing his actions against the rapper. Earlier this month, the 31-year-old filed an emergency King's Bench petition to the Supreme Court to dismiss the inferior court's rulings.
Mill, whose real name is Robert Rihmeek Williams, has reason to believe that Judge Brinkley should be removed from his case. The same person sentenced him to two to four years in prison last year for the violation of a 10-year-old probation for weapons and drugs charges. In April, she also denied his petition to release him on bail.
His lawyers also believe that Judge Brinkley's behavior should bar her from further overseeing the case. She recently hired a private attorney to defend her in public after many civilians and celebrities had expressed support for the rapper's release. She also threatened to file a defamation suit against Mill.
The rapper's lawyers want his case to be transferred to Philadelphia Courts President Judge of the Common Pleas Sheila Woods-Skipper.
Meek Mill's Quest To Remove Judge Brinkley Off His Case
The decision of the Supreme Court follows the news that a judge in Philadelphia also denied Mill's request to remove Judge Brinkley from his case. In May, Common Pleas Court Judge Leon Tucker told the rapper's legal team that only the Supreme Court of Philadelphia has the power to decide on the plea.
"We have a judge that wears the same robe that I wear, that has not recused herself and has not disqualified herself," Judge Tucker said. "I don't have the jurisdiction to do that. It's as simple as that."
In the meantime, Mill has been enjoying his life as a free man. This weekend, he appeared at the 2018 Hot97 Summer Jam in New Jersey to perform his greatest hits, including "Dreams and Nightmares."
He is also set to perform at the 2018 BET Awards & BET Experience on June 24 in Los Angeles.
