An Illinois appeals court will hear oral arguments Tuesday that the panel should toss Jussie Smollett's convictions for staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself and then lying about it to Chicago police.
FILE - Actor Jussie Smollett, center, leaves the Cook County Jail, March 16, 2022, in Chicago. Smolletts drawn out legal saga begins anew Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023, when an Illinois appeals court will hear oral arguments that the former Empire actors convictions for staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself in 2019 and then lying about it to Chicago police should be tossed.
Among a long list of arguments in the 76-page written appeal from Smollett's lawyers is that his 2021 trial violated his Fifth Amendment protections against double jeopardy — being punished for the same crime twice. It says he already performed community service and forfeited a $10,000 bond as part of a 2019 deal with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office to drop the initial charges.