Nearly two years after Meek Mill was jailed and sentenced to two to four years in prison for violating probation, stemming from a 2008 gun and drug case, the rapper has officially been granted a new hearing in the controversial case.
In November 2017, Common Pleas Court Judge Genece E. Brinkley cited a failed drug test and unapproved travel as the reason for the harsh ruling. In turn, the sentence sparked widespread controversy and uncovered Brinkley’s misconduct and bias in regards to Meek’s case.
However, not only was Brinkley’s actions called into question but according to the rapper’s legal team, the arresting officer in Meek’s original case also had a history of misconduct and dirty arrests. Despite the rapper’s argument, Brinkley refused to step down from the case.
But now, after more than a decade in the system, Meek Mill will finally get a fair hearing in the ’08 case. In fact, the news comes just two weeks after the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office backed the rapper’s demand for a new trial, filing an appeal with the Pennsylvania Superior Court. On Monday, the request was granted.
“We’re looking forward to the oral argument before the Superior Court of Pennsylvania and to, hopefully, having Meek’s conviction vacated,” Meek’s attorney said in a statement. “In light of the District Attorney’s recent filing, where he supports the granting of a new trial to Meek and the recusal of Judge Brinkley, we hope to have this injustice rectified once and for all.”
