A$AP Rocky Jury Selection Nears Completion Amid Racial Disparity Concerns
Jury selection in the trial of rapper A$AP Rocky is expected to conclude on Thursday, despite ongoing protests from the defense team regarding the racial makeup of the potential jurors, The Associated Press reports.
The hip-hop star, whose legal name is Rakim Athelaston Mayers, faces two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm stemming from a 2021 incident in Hollywood where he allegedly shot at a former friend.
Nearly 100 potential jurors have been questioned over three days, as both the prosecution and defense work to seat a panel of 12 jurors and four alternates. Each side is permitted to dismiss 10 jurors without cause. While the prosecution has used only one challenge and expressed satisfaction with the current composition of the jury, the defense has used four challenges and is vehemently protesting the lack of Black representation.
Rocky’s lawyers have stated their intent to appeal the judge’s rejection of their request for a hearing on the racial disparity in the jury pool. They argue that while the area from which the jury is drawn is 9% African American, less than 5% of the potential jurors are Black. They fear that none of the 16 jurors selected could be Black, and have stated it as a “real possibility.” Civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton also criticized the racial makeup of the pool on social media platform X. The judge, however, has declined to pause the trial for the appeal.
During the questioning process, prosecutors focused on jurors’ attitudes toward law enforcement and celebrity. Deputy District Attorney John Lewin even questioned potential jurors about their views on Rihanna, Rocky’s partner and the mother of his two children. He asked how many considered themselves fans of Rihanna, and whether that would affect their judgement on a potential verdict that could lead to a long prison sentence for Rocky. Four jurors admitted they were fans of Rihanna.
Rocky, who is currently free on bail, sat attentively at the defense table during jury selection. His mother and sister were also present, and were acknowledged by the judge who commented on the youthfulness of Rocky’s mother.
Jury selection began on Tuesday after Rocky declined a plea deal that would have given him 180 days in jail, a seven-year suspended sentence, and three years of probation in exchange for pleading guilty to one of the assault charges.
The trial will proceed with opening statements once a jury is selected. The outcome of this case could significantly impact Rocky’s life and career, which is currently at a high point. He is slated to headline the Rolling Loud California music festival in March, serve as a celebrity chair for the Met Gala in May, and star in an upcoming Spike Lee film alongside Denzel Washington.
The charges stem from an incident on November 6, 2021, when Rocky allegedly fired a gun at Terell Ephron, a childhood friend who testified that his relationship with Rocky had deteriorated, leading to a confrontation where bullets grazed his knuckles.
