Lil Durk‘s effort to dismiss his federal murder-for-hire case has been rejected.
According to legal documents, the rapper, whose real name is Durk Devontay Banks, filed a motion on October 6 to dismiss and disqualify the case.
His legal team argued that U.S. Attorney Bilal A. Essayl was improperly appointed to his position by the Attorney General rather than Congress. They claimed this invalidated his authority to handle the prosecution. However, this motion was denied, with the judge noting that Durk did not submit an optional supplemental statement in November supporting his claim.
The artist has been in custody since his arrest in Miami, Florida, in October 2024. He faces charges of murder-for-hire and firearm possession, with allegations that he ordered members of his Only the Family (OTF) label to carry out an attack on Georgia rapper Quando Rondo.
This act of retaliation reportedly stemmed from the 2020 killing of King Von, a close friend and OTF affiliate. However, during the 2022 incident, it was Rondo’s cousin, Saviay’a Robinson, who was fatally shot.
Durk’s trial is slated to commence on January 20, 2026, though the case has been marred by multiple complications. These include unauthorized photographs of co-defendants OTF Boogie and OTF Dede taken in court, fueling calls from prosecutors for an anonymous jury to ensure security and impartiality.
This proposal has been met with staunch opposition from Durk and his fellow defendants. Prosecutors argue that such measures are necessary to prevent juror intimidation and safeguard the legal proceedings in light of previous rule violations.
Durk has also petitioned for a new judge and prosecutor, accusing authorities of concealing threats from his fanbase directed at court officials. His lawyers allege that Magistrate Judge Patricia Donahue received four explicit voicemails in February containing violent threats against her life and public safety.
Similar threats were made against prosecutor Ian Yanniello. These incidents further complicate the already high-profile case as it inches closer to trial.
