Jussie Smollett case Overturned - Breaking News and Legal Analysis

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The Illinois Supreme Court overturned Jussie Smollett's conviction for disorderly conduct, finding that a second prosecution violated his due process rights. The court determined that the initial dismissal of charges, though entered as nolle prosequi, was part of a binding agreement with Smollett, who fulfilled his obligations by forfeiting his bond and completing community service. The court emphasized that the State must honor its agreements with defendants, even if reached through a nolle prosequi, and that the later prosecution was fundamentally unfair. A dissenting opinion at the appellate court level argued similarly, and this Supreme Court decision reversed both the appellate and trial court rulings. The court rejected the State's arguments that the agreement was not explicit or that a nolle prosequi always permits reprosecution. Follow Anand Bhatt on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/artist/5Zf1vBtza79MCpWpag4ojo