The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the convictions of former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett on Thursday, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The court ruled that retrying Smollett after the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office dropped charges against him violated his rights. The decision ends years of legal battles surrounding Smollett’s 2019 claim of being attacked in Chicago, which was later deemed a hoax.
Smollett was convicted in 2021 on five counts of disorderly conduct and sentenced to 150 days in jail, probation, and restitution. However, due to ongoing appeals, he has not served the sentence.
Central to his case was the argument that the dropped charges constituted an agreement with prosecutors, making the subsequent retrial unjust.
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