The Supreme Court of Illinois reportedly granted Jussie Smollett’s appeal, and have agreed to allow the actor to make his case in court.
The famous actor was found guilty of five counts of felony disorderly conduct and was sentenced to 30 months of probation in 2021, and he appealed the matter. In 2023 an appeals court upheld the disorderly conduct convictions after Smollett was accused of staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself in 2019 and then lying about it to Chicago police, according to TMZ.
He was sentenced to 150 days in jail, but was reportedly released after 6 days during the appeals process. The actor vehemently argued that the initial deal he made with prosecutors explicitly stated he would evade prosecution if he agreed to their terms, which he claimed he had done, TMZ reported.
Jussie Smollett poses for a booking photo after turning himself into the Chicago Police Department on February 21, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Photo by Chicago Police Department via Getty Images
Director Jussie Smollett attends the New York Screening of “B-Boy Blues” at AMC Magic Johnson Harlem on November 19, 2021 in New York City. Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images
The matter became very technical and both sides engaged in back-and-forth arguments over their differences, according to TMZ.
The Supreme Court’s willingness to hear the case is a major win for the disgraced actor. He will have the opportunity to appeal his criminal conviction and the justices on the court will be able to issue a final ruling on the matter, thereby putting an end to the back-and-forth in this case, the outlet reported.
Actor Jussie Smollett is led out of the courtroom after being sentenced at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on March 10, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. He was sentenced to 150 days in jail, 30 months probation, ordered to pay $120,000 restitution to the city of Chicago and fined $25,000. Photo by Brian Cassella-Pool/Getty Images
Former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett (light mask) is released from the Cook County Department of Corrections detention center on March 16, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images
Smollett has been appealing his conviction since 2021, and remained defiant when a 3-judge panel upheld his conviction and sentenced him to time behind bars, according to TMZ.
He reportedly continued to claim the prosecutors that initially handled his case offered him a deal that included the guarantee that he wouldn’t be prosecuted. The actor claimed he was told he would have to forfeit a bond he had paid, and would be obligated to do community service as part of the agreement set forth, the outlet reported. He claimed he upheld his part of the bargain, and pushed back on what he deemed to be double jeopardy, alleging the prosecution walked back the terms of their original agreement, according to TMZ.
Actor Jussie Smollett after his court appearance at Leighton Courthouse on March 26, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. This morning in court it was announced that all charges were dropped against the actor. Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images
Former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett leaves the Leighton Criminal Courts Building as the jury begins deliberation during his trial on December 8, 2021. Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images
The special prosecutor argued that the deal that was in place did not protect the actor from further charges, TMZ reported. (RELATED: Jussie Smollett’s Lawyers Appeal Hate Crime Hoax Conviction)
The Supreme Court likely found Smollett’s appeal to have merit, and are offering him the opportunity to present his case.
It is not yet clear when Smollett’s court battle will resume.
