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By Erin Keller
Reporter (Live News)
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The jury is set in A$AP Rocky's felony assault case, but lawyers tell Newsweek that one female juror, a firearms instructor, is "very risky" in the rapper's alleged shooting case.
However, Joe Tacopina, an attorney for A$AP Rocky, told Newsweek that the rapper's defense has "nothing to hide" in this case and that they wanted a juror who is familiar with firearms.
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A$AP Rocky's lawyers expressed concerns about the lack of Black people in the Los Angeles jury pool earlier this week. Details about the races, ethnicities, and genders of the final 12 jurors and four alternates are not available at the time of publication.
What is A$AP Rock Charged With?
A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. The charges stem from a 2021 incident where he allegedly fired shots at his former friend A$AP Relli.
A$AP Rocky declined a plea deal Tuesday, including 180 days in jail, a suspended sentence, and probation.
What To Know
One woman a firearms instructor, told the court Thursday that she had a family history of legal experts.
Legal affairs journalist Meghann Cuniff reported that the woman said her father was a criminal defense attorney, her uncle was a judge, and four of her cousins are lawyers, including a District Attorney.
Another selected female alternate juror is an entertainment lawyer, Cuniff said.
Prosecutors excused a woman who would have been an alternate after she said she was a digital creator who creates "viral moments" and was "very much so" aware of A$AP Rocky's celebrity status.
They also dismissed a man who stated his distrust in law enforcement after his father beat his mother during his childhood and police in Nebraska didn't do anything to help.
Cuniff also reported that A$AP Rocky's legal team dismissed a man who said his cousin was a Los Angeles Police officer on the witness list, although prosecutors said he won't be called to testify.
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Michael McAuliffe Responds
Attorney Michael McAuliffe told Newsweek on Thursday that the female juror who is a firearms instructor could have a great impact on the jury.
"The advantage is she can easily understand the information about guns and bullets, but the potential downside is that she'll become in effect an expert witness for the other jurors," he said.
McAuliffe added that it appears A$AP Rocky's defense team used only seven of 10 peremptory challenges during the final jury selection.
"If that's accurate, it's mystifying why the defense would keep a firearms instructor on the jury given the firearm charges," he said. "The defense must believe something else about the juror outweighs her expertise about firearms. It's a very risky maneuver."
Neama Rahmani Responds
Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani also called the female firearms instructor "very risky" for both the defense and prosecution.
The legal analyst told Newsweek on Thursday that a juror with this kind of experience "can sway the entire jury."
"What you want if you're the prosecution — this isn't the strongest case in the world — so maybe prosecutors firmly believe that this person is in their camp and on their side. But if she's not, she can easily hang the panel. She can even result in an acquittal," Rahmani said.
Tapcopina's Response Continued
Tacopina added in his statement to Newsweek: "Shame on any 'lawyer' who opines on who is or isn't a good juror for either side without being in the courtroom or without knowing a stitch of evidence. They are clearly looking to get their name in the press. Maybe they should try a case and then comment on that case."
Who is A$AP Rocky's Lawyer?
Joe Tacopina is representing A$AP Rocky in his assault trial. No stranger to high-profile cases, the New York-based attorney has also represented rapper Meek Mill, baseball player Alex Rodriguez, and President Donald Trump.
Another famous client, Fox News host Sean Hannity, called Tacopina one of the "greatest defense attorneys of all time."
Tacopina and another attorney for A$AP Rocky, Chad Seigel, raised issues with the jury pool this week.
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Seigel argued that the pool should be stricken because of the 106 potential jurors, only five were Black, hence not representing the 9 percent of Black people who make up Los Angeles' population.
Judge Mark Arnold rejected this argument, saying, "There's no authority that requires any particular percentage of any ethnicity on a jury," Cuniff reported.
What Happens Next
With the jury set, opening statements in A$AP Rocky's trial begin Friday at 10:30 a.m. local time. The judge has allowed a camera in the courtroom for the trial, so the public will be able to watch.
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Update 01/23/25 7:42 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Joe Tacopina.
Update 01/23/25 7:59 pm. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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