NationStates

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-met-jussie-smollett-sealed-court-records-20190523-story.html

Cook County judge Thursday ordered the case file in the aborted prosecution of “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett unsealed, marking a victory for the Chicago Tribune and other news organizations and adding another twist to a case with seemingly no end to controversy.

After news organizations sought to unseal the records, Smollett’s legal team opposed the request, citing the actor’s privacy rights.

But Circuit Judge Steven Watkins held that those privacy rights had been trumped by Smollett and his attorneys going before the cameras to declare his innocence.

“These are not the actions of a person seeking to maintain his privacy or simply be let alone,” Watkins said in a 10-page ruling that he read aloud in court. “While the court appreciates that (Smollett) was in the public eye before the events that precipitated this case, it was not necessary for him to address this so publicly and to such an extent. By doing so, the court cannot credit his privacy interest as good cause to keep the case records sealed.”

After the ruling came down, reporters waited for several hours in the circuit court clerk’s office — which maintains the criminal records — for the documents in the case to be scanned. In the end, however, little new was revealed — not surprising since Foxx’s office had abruptly dropped the 16-count indictment against Smollett just less than three weeks after he was charged. In fact, the majority of the 192-page file consisted of the media’s motions objecting to the sealing of the file in the first place.

But the judge’s ruling still could have a significant impact. The Chicago Police Department and the Cook County state’s attorney’s office had both denied public records requests on the grounds that the file was sealed. After the seal was lifted, Foxx’s office said it was reviewing its records and expected to release more documents by June 3.

What does NS think of this? I'm pretty glad to see it. The treatment of the Smollett case was a classic example of our two tier justice system that protects the politically connected.

If anything, at least we’ll have more information on the case and what exactly happened.

All of this could have been avoided if Jussie just came clean and admitted he made it up, apologized for wasting police resources and made restitution. Instead he is now pretty much universally reviled and is being sued out his ass.

How many fucking times does he have to screw himself over before he shuts his idiot mouth? He ran his mouth about the fake attack and drew skepticism, he ran his mouth about his co-conspirators being real racist homophobes and got sued, and he ran his mouth about getting off and convinced the judge to open his records. For fucks sake just stop talking.

Des-Bal wrote:How many fucking times does he have to screw himself over before he shuts his idiot mouth? He ran his mouth about the fake attack and drew skepticism, he ran his mouth about his co-conspirators being real racist homophobes and got sued, and he ran his mouth about getting off and convinced the judge to open his records. For fucks sake just stop talking.

He staged a fake race crime with two Nigerians. I don't think he's smart enough to even know what "quiet" means.

This is where the fun begins.

Des-Bal wrote:How many fucking times does he have to screw himself over before he shuts his idiot mouth? He ran his mouth about the fake attack and drew skepticism, he ran his mouth about his co-conspirators being real racist homophobes and got sued, and he ran his mouth about getting off and convinced the judge to open his records. For fucks sake just stop talking.

He's an arrogant asshole. He got off once so he thinks he's invincible.

Aclion wrote:In fact, the majority of the 192-page file consisted of the media’s motions objecting to the sealing of the file in the first place.

I won't lie, that amuses me a bit.

Good, maybe we'll find some actual collusion!

lol who the fuck cares can he just crawl off and live out his days with the C-listers and stop bothering all of us w his nonsense

He deserves to be sued, and so much more, because of his stupid actions.