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. 26. But Linn also urged lawyers for Smollett and the special prosecutor’s office to prepare themselves for a trial or other resolution to the charges that the actor is facing. In January of 2019, Smollett, who is gay, claimed that he was the target of a racist and homophobic attack. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPSmollett attended Monday's virtual hearing and told the judge he was in New York City.

Source: Fox News August 03, 2021 13:41 UTC