R. Kelly’s local trial in Chicago has been set for August 2022, according to Billboard, after he was convicted of sex trafficking and racketeering in a New York court last month. The musician is facing allegations of child pornography and obstruction of justice for alleged witness tampering and intimidation in that case. The next study will begin on August 1 and will last three to four weeks. R. Kelly’s original attorneys, Steve Greenberg and Michael Leonard, will defend him in his second trial after abandoning the New York case before it went to trial.
During today’s scheduling hearing, Greenberg also mentioned that the singer had been placed on suicide watch after being found guilty in New York, but that he had since been cleared. Kelly’s sentencing hearing in that case has been set for May 4, 2022, and the singer could face a life sentence. Greenberg stated during the schedule that he would be “revamping” his legal team in preparation for an appeal once sentencing was completed. Kelly was present via video call during the scheduled session, but according to Billboard, he was “unable to unmute himself to answer when the court asked about the status of his legal team.”
Kelly’s wish to revamp may be related to reports that his team in New York was disorganized and unprepared.
