Entertainment
Judge supported by rapper’s suspected shooting victim returns to preside over the legal battle
A$AP RockyThe defamation lawsuit took a turn in court this week when a judge who had been dismissed at the request of the rapper’s alleged shooting victim returned to preside over the case, documents obtained by RadarOnline.com revealed.
The maneuver marked the fifth time judges have been shuffled in the legal battle — and it may not be the last.
Terell Ephronin other words “Relli,” filed the suit last September, accusing his former friend A$AP and the rapper lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, called him an extortionist and a liar. He had accused A$AP of pointing a gun at him and shooting him twice, allegedly wounding his hands with bullet fragments. The rapper pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges in August 2022.
As this outlet reported, Judge Randolph hammock agreed to dismiss the case on April 30 in response to a request from Ephron, who claimed he would not receive a “fair and impartial trial” under Hammock. The case was then transferred to the fourth official, the judge William FaheyBut Tacopina filed his own challenge with this judge.
Fahey retaliated on May 31 and the case was sent back to court for reinstatement. On June 6, the case was assigned to Hammock because the court said in a preliminary ruling that Ephron’s objection to this judge was not filed in a timely manner.
The decree stated that after the case was assigned to Hammock on April 10, “any party still entitled to file a peremptory challenge to that assignment” must do so by April 30 — the same day Ephron’s request was granted submitted.
Terell alleged that Hammock was “biased against the party (or his or her attorney) or the party’s interest (or his or her attorney) such that the complainant cannot, or believes that he or she cannot, receive a fair and impartial trial can do or hearing before the bailiff.”
But the court noted that “the crucial legal issue is whether [Ephron’s] recent peremptory challenge…was timely, as Judge Hammock had previously been assigned to that case for “all purposes” on September 11, 2023.
“The preliminary determination of this Court is to DENY this particular challenge as untimely,” the order said.
However, it remains to be seen whether Hammock will remain presiding judge, as another court order dated June 20 ruled that either party would still be allowed to submit written arguments on Ephron’s objection. They must submit their briefs by June 28 and the matter will be further discussed at a hearing on July 5.
