Meek Mill Dealt Setback in Getting Out of Jail

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Earlier this month, Philadelphia-born Maybach Music Group rapper Meek Mill was sentenced to three to six months in jail for violating probation. His chances of getting out early were dealt a blow two days ago, when a judge rejected his lawyers' request for an emergency hearing. 

Instead, it appears that Meek Mill -- born Robert Williams -- will not receive a hearing until September.

"All I'm asking for is a hearing to learn why (his jailing) is constitutional and they won't even give me that," defense attorney Christopher Warren said July 19. Common Pleas Judge Genece Brinkley has said her court schedule does not permit a hearing until September and rejected a request to let another judge hear the case. 

Warren and fellow attorney Dennis Cogan plan to file a writ of mandamus, which asks a higher court to hold an emergency hearing. The defense claims that Mill did nothing to have his probation revoked and that his jailing is unconstitutional because Brinkley failed to hold two hearings and provide its client with a written notice of his violations before jailing him. 

On the flip side, Brinkley claims Mill failed to provide his probation officer with a working phone number, booked out-of-town shows without permission, was disrespectful to officers and prosecutors and posed with a gun for a picture on Instagram.

Mill was originally on probation for a 2008 gun and drug conviction, for which he served eight months in jail and began five years of probation in the fall of 2009.

To complicate matters, Meek Mill's sophomore studio album, "Dreams Worth More Than Money," is scheduled for a Sept. 9 release. 

 SOURCE: http://www.billboard.com