R. Kelly Drops Chicago Legal Team, Hires Bill Cosby’s Appellate Lawyer

Convicted R&B singer R. Kelly officially dropped his original Chicago legal team earlier this week and hired the attorney responsible for successfully appealing Bill Cosby’s conviction.

During a teleconference on Wednesday morning, Kelly, who is currently awaiting sentencing in a Brooklyn federal jail, said he wanted Jennifer Bonjean to represent him in the Chicago case, which is now set to begin a jury trial in August.

Kelly confirmed to U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber when asked if he was parting ways with his original Chicago-based attorneys, Steve Greenberg and Michael Leonard. “That’s correct, your honor,” Kelly said.

Kelly’s three trial attorneys from the New York case, which ended in a conviction on racketeering charges, withdrew their appearances earlier this month.

Bonjean, who is credited as the driving force in winning Cosby’s appeal case was already working on an appeal in Kelly’s New York case and will now file post-trial motions before U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly today.