Lil Durk’s federal murder-for-hire case has now been pushed to late summer after a judge shut down a bid from some of his co-defendants to have separate trials.
Fresh court documents show that U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald ruled the defendants will stand trial together, locking in a new start date of August 20, 2026. The decision follows efforts from several co-defendants who argued their cases should be split from Durk’s.
Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald denied those motions, pointing out that individuals accused in the same alleged conspiracy are usually tried as a group, and separating them requires a strong legal reason. He also noted that much of the evidence would overlap anyway, making a joint trial the more practical route.
Lil Durk has been in custody since his October 2024 arrest and remains behind bars after being denied bail. Prosecutors allege the Chicago rapper orchestrated a murder-for-hire scheme tied to the 2022 killing of Quando Rondo’s cousin, Saviay’a Robinson. Durk has denied all allegations.
The trial was initially slated to kick off in April, but scheduling adjustments and multiple legal motions led to the delay. Once proceedings begin, the case is expected to stretch across several weeks.
The high-profile legal fight continues to grab attention across the music world, with fans and industry figures closely watching as the case heads toward its August showdown.
