The high-profile case of Meek Mill is dragging on after the controversial Philadelphia judge in the matter, Genece Brinkley, said at a tense hearing this week she’ll need more time to rule on whether he gets a new trial.
Meek’s legal team has argued that Brinkley has a personal grudge against the rapper: She sent him to prison last year for up to four years on a probation violation, but the sentence was tossed in April after the Philly DA’s office said Meek’s 2007 arresting officer was a bad apple.
In 1,500 cases involving the same officer, the defendants have switched to the same judge, but Brinkley kept Meek’s case for herself.
Prosecutors and Meek’s team agree that a new trial should be granted, but Brinkley so far won’t budge, saying she needs more time.
According to court records, the case looks likely to continue, with the next venue being Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
In an exchange in court this week, Brinkley told one of Meek’s lawyers, Brian J. McMonagle, “My responsibility, because this is my case, is to make sure that the record is clear, because obviously we know that it’s going to go to another court after here. So .?.?.” When McMonagle shot back, “?‘Obviously we know that’? You mean you’ve made your mind up?”
Brinkley said, “No, I haven’t made my mind up.” When Meek’s rep asked, “How else would it go to another court?” the judge said, “It doesn’t matter what I do.”
Outside, Meek addressed a rally of 300 supporters, as the legal battle wages on in Philly.