Lil Durk’s effort to get his federal murder-for-hire case thrown out has been rejected.
According to documents obtained, a filing dated December 16 details how Durk (born Durk Devontay Banks) submitted a motion on October 6 seeking to dismiss the case and disqualify prosecutors. His legal team argued that U.S. Attorney Bilal A. Essayl was improperly appointed because he was selected by the Attorney General instead of Congress. If Essayl wasn’t “lawfully serving,” they claimed, he shouldn’t be allowed to take part in Durk’s prosecution.
The judge denied the request, noting that the Grammy-winning rapper failed to submit an optional follow-up statement regarding the motion in November.
Durk has remained in custody since his October 2024 arrest in Miami, Florida, where he was taken in on allegations tied to a murder-for-hire plot. He also faces a firearm possession charge and is accused of directing associates from his Only the Family label to carry out a hit on Georgia rapper Quando Rondo.
Prosecutors have said the alleged motive stemmed from the 2020 killing of Durk’s close friend and Only the Family artist King Von. While the intended target survived the 2022 shooting, Rondo’s cousin, Saviay’a Robinson, was fatally shot during the incident.
Although Durk’s trial is set to begin on January 20, 2026, the case has already faced several complications. One issue involved photos being taken of co-defendants OTF Boogie and OTF Dede inside the courtroom. Prosecutors have since pushed for an anonymous jury, a move Durk and the other defendants strongly oppose.
“This blatant violation of the federal rules, and the following widespread dissemination of the photograph, underscores that an anonymous jury is only one of the security measures this court should employ to prevent improper attempts to intimidate and/or influence jurors, ensure a fair trial for all parties, and protect the judicial process,” a statement read.
Durk has also requested a new judge and prosecutor, alleging the government failed to disclose threats made by members of his fanbase.
His attorneys claim that in February, four disturbing voicemails were left for Magistrate Judge Patricia Donahue, with a caller allegedly threatening to kill the judge and cause widespread chaos. Murder prosecutor Ian Yanniello was also said to be a target of those threats.
