A decide in the Young Dolph homicide case has eliminated himself after he was ordered to take action by the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals.
Judge Recuses Himself from the Young Dolph Murder Case
According to a FOX13 Memphis report, revealed on Friday (Oct. 27), Judge Lee Coffee eliminated himself from the Young Dolph homicide case involving suspects accused of killing the late Memphis rapper.
In paperwork obtained by XXL, the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals filed paperwork on Sept. 28, 2023, ordering Judge Coffee to recuse himself from the homicide case base on what they imagine is his prejudicial actions in direction of defendant Justin Johnson, who is likely one of the homicide suspects in the Young Dolph homicide case.
In November of 2022, Judge Coffee revoked Johnson’s telephone privileges after studying he launched a rap track known as “No Statements” by means of a jail telephone. According to jail officers, Johnson, who additionally goes by the rap title Straight Drop (or Straight Dropp) did not break any jail coverage by recording a track over the telephone.
However, Judge Coffee Johnson filed a “DRT” order on Johnson that “would not be allowed him to use the phone or have any visitation privileges unless it is his attorney because of the inappropriate recording that he allegedly released and recorded while in jail,” paperwork from the Court of Criminal Appeals revealed.
In December of 2022, Johnson’s lawyer, Luke Evans, filed a movement to recuse Judge Coffee arguing the decide couldn’t be neutral after he failed to tell him about an order limiting Johnson’s capability to speak with folks exterior the jail apart from Evans.
In July 2023, Judge Coffee denied that he was biased in opposition to Johnson and refused to take away himself. He additionally denied that he had seen or listened to the recording. Subseqeuntly, Evans filed an attraction to the Criminal Court of Appeals.
In their ruling, the Court of Appeals agreed with Evans stating in half, “It would appear to a reasonable person that Judge Coffee has a prejudice of a personal character, directed at the Defendant, stemming from an extrajudicial source. Based on these reasons, we find that the trial court erred in denying the Defendant’s motion to recuse.”
So What Happens Next?
Justin Johnson, Cornelius Smith, Hernandez Govan and Jermarcus Johnson, who all have been charged in the homicide of Young Dolph, must face a brand new decide the following time they’re in court docket.
Initially, Judge Coffee set a March 11, 2024 trial date for the 2 defendants: Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith. But it is unclear how Coffee’s elimination from the case would have an effect on their trial date.
Meanwhile, Jermarcus Johnson, who’s Johnson’s brother, pleaded responsible to 3 counts of accent after the very fact at a June 2023 listening to. But Jermarcus may very well be requested to testify in opposition to his brother in his upcoming trial.
Finally, Hernandez Govan, the person accused of organizing the homicide of Young Dolph, has been out on bond since May of 2023.
If convicted, Justin Johnson would face life in jail with out parole and must serve 51 years in jail earlier than he may very well be eligible for launch.
Read More: Young Dolph’s Fiancée, Mia Jaye, Writes Heartfelt Letter to Rapper on His Birthday
Check out FOX13 Memphis’ information report on the decide recusing himself from the Young Dolph homicide case under.
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