Illinois Court Rejects Jussie Smollett’s Attempt to Throw Out Charges

On Friday, the Illinois Supreme Court refused to throw out the charges against Jussie Smollett that accused him of staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself last year. The court also rejected removal of the special prosecutor involved in the case.

Smollett’s attorneys argued in an emergency petition that Cook County Circuit Judge Michael Toomin overstepped his authority and misinterpreted the law when he ordered the appointment of a special prosecutor. According to WGN-TV, the court did not explain its decision to reject the arguments by Smollett’s lawyers.

The former “Empire” actor was initially accused by Cook County prosecutors of falsely reporting the alleged attack. The 16 counts of disorderly conduct originally filed against him were dismissed, and Toomin found Smollett’s first prosecution invalid. Smollett pled not guilty last week on six counts of the same charges after another investigation by special prosecutor Dan Webb.