James Linn Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Attorneys for Jussie Smollett filed their appeal of his conviction on Wednesday, as they seek to keep him from having to go back to jail on hate crime hoax charges. Smollett was released a year ago pending his appeal, after serving six days of his 150-day sentence. Attorneys for the former “Empire” actor were originally due to file his appellate brief last August, but have been granted five extensions of that deadline. Smollett was convicted in December 2021 of lying to police when he claimed to have been assaulted by two men who shouted homophobic and racist slurs, poured a chemical substance on him, and put a rope around his neck.

CHICAGO -- Jussie Smollett walked out of a Chicago jail after serving six days and walked into months, if not years, of uncertainty — from what's next for his career as an actor and performer to whether he'll eventually be back behind bars.The former star of the TV show “Empire" was sentenced last week to 150 days in jail plus probation and a fine after a jury found him guilty of lying to police about being the victim of a racist, anti-gay attack in downtown Chicago in 2019. His release late Wednesday came hours after an appellate court ordered he could go free during the appeal process, which wouldn't be completed before Smollett had served his full sentence.Smollett, who is Black and gay, has maintained his innocence.

What's next for Jussie Smollett after his release from jail on Wednesday? Several legal experts gave their opinions in interviews with Fox News Digital. Smollett was granted a release on bond from the Cook County Jail in Illinois pending the appeal of his conviction.

CHICAGO -- Jussie Smollett was released from jail following six nights behind bars after an appeals court agreed with his lawyers that he should be free pending the appeal of his conviction for lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack.The former “Empire” actor walked out of the Cook County Jail on Wednesday surrounded by security. He did not comment as he got into an awaiting SUV, but his attorneys said Smollett, who is Black and gay, was the target of a racist justice system and people playing politics.The appeals court ruling came after a Cook County judge sentenced Smollett last week to immediately begin serving 150 days in jail for his conviction on five felony counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police.

Things in this legal matter just took an unexpected turn…

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterAn appeals court ordered former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett released from jail on Wednesday, just seven days into a 150-day sentence for faking a hate crime.In a 2-1 ruling, the justices ordered Smollett released pending the appeal of his conviction, on the condition that he post a $150,000 bond.Smollett was sentenced to serve five months in the Cook County jail, after being convicted at trial in December of five counts of disorderly conduct, a Class 4 felony. Smollett was found guilty of staging a hate attack, in which he claimed to have been assaulted by two men who yelled racial and homophobic slurs at him and put a noose around his neck in January 2019.Smollett was also ordered to pay $120,000 in restitution to the City of Chicago, for the cost of paying overtime to officers who investigated the purported attack.

After less than a week behind bars on a 150-day sentence for faking a hate crime, Jussie Smollett will be walking out of the Cook County Jail today.

Jussie Smollett will be released from jail after only six days. Per court documents obtained by HollywoodLife, Jussie will be able to walk free  after he posts a $150,000 bond.. The actor, 39, was initially sentenced to 150 days (approximately five months) at the Cook County Jail in Chicago, Illinois. The news comes amid reports that he been fasting for several days due to Lent, which began on March 3. He’s also made moves to appeal to his sentencing.

CHICAGO -- Jussie Smollett's attorneys say they're planning to appeal nearly everything that went on in court over the last few months — from the actor's December conviction of lying to police to the 150-day sentence a judge imposed last week. And they want the actor to be released from jail immediately rather than wait for the outcome.Now, the issue of whether Smollett must sit in jail during these planned appeals is before a state appeals court and while the appeals could take months to resolve, the question of whether Smollett remains locked up will be resolved much quicker.That's because Smollett's attorneys have asked in a motion to the First District Court of Appeals to suspend the jail sentence and allow Smollett to post bond so that he can be out of custody during the appeal process.

Jussie Smollett has been moved from a psych ward and into a jail cell with a bed, according to his brother, Jocqui Smollett. Jocqui took to his brother's official Instagram account early Tuesday with a video message to the former "Empire" actor's supporters with a "day five update." "So I just got to see him. Just want to give y'all an update on his status.Thank you so much for the support, all the hashtag #FreeJussie, it's working.

Jussie Smollett has been placed in the psychiatric ward at the Cook County Jail in Chicago, Illinois.  According to Jocqui Smollett, Jussie’s brother, he was moved to the pysch ward due to "being at risk of self-harm". Jocqui went on to add in an Instagram video shared on Saturday that this is "very concerning" to him.  Jussie Smollett has been placed in the psychiatric ward at the Cook County Jail in Chicago, Illinois.

The twists, turns and oddities of the legal saga surrounding Jussie Smollett’s claim in 2019 that he was the target of a racist and homophobic attack in Chicago culminated Thursday with his sentencing. It follows a trial in December that concluded with a jury convicting Smollett on five counts of disorderly conduct. Smollett was acquitted on a sixth count.

Jussie Smollett began a 150-day jail sentence for staging a hate crime against himself in protective custody, separated from other detainees and watched by security cameras and an officer, jail authorities said Friday. Sheriff's deputies immediately took Smollett to the Cook County Jail Thursday night after Judge James Linn sentenced the Black and gay actor to 30 months of felony probation, starting with a five-month term in jail, for lying to police that he had been the target of a racist and homophobic attack.

The Osundairo brothers are speaking out following Jussie Smollett’s sentencing for faking a 2019 hate crime and lying to law enforcement. Bola Osundairo, who had taken the stand as a prosecution witness in the Smollett trial, detailed the brothers’ alleged involvement in how the hoax had been carried out.

CHICAGO -- A judge sentenced Jussie Smollett to 150 days in jail, branding the Black and gay actor a narcissistic charlatan for staging a hate crime against himself to grab the limelight while the nation struggled with wrenching issues of racial injustice. Smollett responded by defiantly maintaining his innocence and suggesting he could be killed in jail.The sentence and Smollett’s post-hearing outburst capped an hourslong hearing Thursday and more than three years of legal drama following Smollett's claim that he had been the target of a racist and homophobic attack.Smollett didn't make a statement when offered the opportunity before the judge announced the sentence, saying he was listening to his attorneys' advice.

Empire star guilty on five counts of felony disorderly conduct for making fraudulent reports to police that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic assault in January of 2019. The 39-year-old Smollet was accused of staging the hate crime and charged, though he continued to plead his innocence throughout the trial.Speaking for more than 30 minutes before announcing Smollett’s sentence, Cook County Judge James Linn noted that the actor’s premeditation for the act was an “aggravating factor” in the case.“There’s a side of you that has this arrogance, and selfishness and narcissism that’s just disgraceful,” said Linn.

Jussie Smollett appears somber in a booking photo released by the Cook County Sheriff's Office after the "Empire" actor was sentenced on Thursday for staging a hate crime against himself.  Smollett was sentenced by Cook County Judge James Linn to 30 months of felony probation and 150 days in the county jail. Linn ordered Smollett to be immediately placed in custody. The photo showing a subdued Smollett in a white button-down shirt capped a dramatic day in the courtroom.The actor declared he was "innocent" as he was taken out by sheriff's deputies.

the former Empire actor was found guilty on five counts of disorderly conduct pertaining to a police report he filed on January 29, 2019 – the same day the alleged attack took place.Smollett’s lawyer Nenye Uche said at the time that he would appeal the conviction, adding that his client was “committed to clearing his name”.While handing Smollett his sentence in a Chicago court yesterday (March 10), Cook County Judge James Linn said: “Let me tell you, Mr Smollett, that there is nothing I can do here today that will come close to the damage that you have already done to your own life.“You’ve turned your life upside down by your misconduct and your shenanigans.”He added: “You took some scabs off some healing wounds, and for one reason: You wanted to make yourself more famous, and for a while it worked. The lights were on you.

Jussie Smollett (Pic: Shutterstock.com)

Jussie Smollett learned his fate Thursday after a judge delivered the terms of his sentence following a contentious four hours in a Chicago courtroom. Mere minutes after being ordered into custody to begin serving 150 days in jail, the actor addressed the court one last time – despite the fact he said prior to having his sentence read that he had nothing to say. The former "Empire" star, 39, stood up and affirmed his innocence in a passionate declaration to Cook County Judge James Linn, saying, "I'm not suicidal." "I respect you, your honor," Smollett said as he placed his hands together in a gesture toward the bench.

Hollywood couple Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson were among those to offer support for Jussie Smollett ahead of his sentencing on Thursday.  Letters from Jackson, his wife, an organizer with Black Lives Matter, and Jesse Jackson's Rainbow PUSH Coalition were among those read Thursday in the Chicago courtroom, where Cook County Judge James Linn ultimately sentenced Smollett to 150 days in jail for lying to police in what authorities said was a staged hate crime. "It is with the respect of knowing this, that I humbly implore you to please find an alternative to incarceration for Jussie Smollett," Jackson and Richard wrote in the Feb.

Jussie Smollett, 39, insisted that he’s innocent after being sentenced to 150 days in prison, 30 months of felony probation, and ordered to pay $120,106 in restitution and a $25,000 fine by Chicago’s Judge James Linn on Thursday, March 10. Immediately after the sentencing, Smollett addressed the court room where he yelled he’s not “suicidal.”

Jussie Smollett‘s fate has finally been revealed.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterFormer “Empire” star Jussie Smollett was sentenced to five months in jail on Thursday for concocting a hate crime hoax, in which he lied to police about being jumped by two men who yelled racist and homophobic slurs.Judge James Linn also ordered Smollett to pay $120,000 restitution to the city of Chicago, plus a $25,000 fine, and to serve 30 months of probation. After the sentence was announced, Smollett stood up and said, “I am innocent and I am not suicidal.” Smollett continued to shout as he was led out of the courtroom and remanded to custody.Linn delivered a scathing rebuke before rendering the sentence, saying Smollett had taken some “scabs off some healing wounds” because he wanted to make himself more famous.

 Jussie Smollett was sentenced Thursday to 150 days in jail for lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack that the former “Empire” actor orchestrated himself.

Just over three months after being found guilty on five felony counts, including lying to Chicago cops about an alleged 2019 hate crime attack, former Empire actor Jussie Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in jail today starting immediately. The incarceration comes as a part of an overall sentence of 30 months probation, $120,106 in restitution to the Windy City and a further $25,000 fine.

Jussie Smollett, 39, was sentenced to 150 days in prison and 30 months of felony probation by Chicago’s Judge James Linn on Thursday March 10. He was also ordered to pay exactly $120,106K in restitution and $25,000K in fines. The actor’s sentencing comes four months after he was found guilty on five counts of disorderly conduct for staging a hate crime when he filed a false police report, a felony offense. The star could’ve faced up to three years in prison for the scandal. Jussie can also appeal the sentence.

Jussie Smollett told police he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack on a dark, cold Chicago street, all of the questions swirling around the actor — from whether he staged a fake attack to why he would do such a thing — now boil down to two: Will he admit he lied to police and will he be sent to prison?On Thursday, three months after a jury found him guilty of lying to police, those questions will be answered when Smollett, a onetime star of the television show “Empire,” returns for sentencing to the courtroom where he was found guilty of lying to police about an attack prosecutors contended he orchestrated himself.Smollett was convicted of five of six felony counts of disorderly conduct — for lying to police. He was acquitted on a sixth count.

CHICAGO -- Jussie Smollett, who was convicted last month of for lying to police about a racist, homophobic attack that authorities said he staged, will return to court for sentencing March 10, a judge said Thursday.Cook County Judge James Linn set the sentencing date in Chicago for the former “Empire” actor, who told the judge he was in New York, during a hearing on Zoom.Smollett was found guilty by a jury Dec. 9 of five felony counts of disorderly conduct under a subsection of the law that prohibits making false reports to police.

A Cook County judge has ordered that cameras and press will not be allowed inside the courtroom when Jussie Smollett’s trial kicks off Monday.  Judge James Linn denied a request for extended media coverage. At the time of his ruling last Friday, he did not immediately give an explanation.

Jussie Smollett, who is accused of lying to police when he reported that he was the victim of a racist, anti-gay attack in downtown Chicago in January 2019.An attorney for the former “Empire” actor said Smollett's rights were being violated since he had already performed community service and given up a $10,000 bond under a previous deal with Cook County prosecutors to drop charges.“A deal is a deal.

Jussie Smollett’s attorneys cannot call as a witness the Chicago prosecutor whose office dropped initial charges accusing the actor of staging a racist, anti-gay attack on himself in 2019, a judge ruled Thursday.

Jussie Smollett’s attorneys cannot call as a witness the Chicago prosecutor whose office dropped initial charges accusing the actor of staging a racist, anti-gay attack on himself in 2019, a judge ruled Thursday. Smollett's attorneys also cannot mention various lawsuits linked to his case, Cook County Judge James Linn said.

CHICAGO -- Jussie Smollett’s attorneys cannot call as a witness the Chicago prosecutor whose office dropped initial charges accusing the actor of staging a racist, anti-gay attack on himself in 2019, a judge ruled Thursday.Smollett's attorneys also cannot mention various lawsuits linked to his case, Cook County Judge James Linn said.

A judge granted lawyers for embattled former "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett more time to prepare legal arguments, including whether a key witness's previous battery conviction can be introduced at trial. On Monday, Cook County Judge James Linn scheduled the next hearing in the case for Aug.

CHICAGO -- A judge on Friday said he would not kick one of Jussie Smollett's attorneys off the case even though he believes the attorney spoke to two men the actor allegedly hired to help him carry out a staged racist and homophobic attack.In his ruling, Cook County Judge James Linn took the unusual step of prohibiting Smollett attorney Nenye Uche from questioning the two brothers, Abinbola and Olabinjo Osudairo, should the case go to trial, and that someone else on the actor's legal team would