Jurors in the trial of two men charged with killing Young Dolph will come from outside of Memphis due to intense media coverage of the fatal shooting in Dolph’s hometown According to the Independent, Judge Jennifer J. Mitchell made the ruling on Friday (February 9), deciding a change of venue motion, filed by Justin Johnson’s lawyer, made sense. Johnson’s attorney argued that his client can’t get a fair trial before Memphis jurors due to the intense media attention and “public visceral outrage” over the murder.
“This court is wary that jurors from Shelby County will not be able to lay aside their opinions or impressions and render a verdict based upon the evidence presented,” Mitchell.
A jury will be be brought to Memphis from outside of Shelby County for the June 3 trial of Johnson and Cornelius Smith Jr. Both men have pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges in the November 2021 daytime ambush of Young Dolph, who was buying cookies at a Madeka’s Cookies at the time of the shooting.
Johnson’s lawyer, Luke Evans, aruged Young Dolph’s case has received “relentless” attention from news outlets and on social media. He pointed out some commenters have called for Johnson to be “lynched or killed” in prison in an attempt to seek vengeance—not justice.
Evans insisted it would be dangerous for the trial’s integrity if a jury from the Memphis area were recruited and the court shouldn’t “play chicken” with Johnson’s rights in the murder of rapper who was so beloved in the city.
Prosecutor Paul Hagerman suggested questionnaires should be sent to a potential jury pool of 150 to 200 people in Shelby County to gauge the effect of news coverage and social media commentary. The judge would then question the remaining members of the jury pool about the media coverage.
Mitchell said the process could delay the trial, which already was pushed back from March 11. Meanwhile, Hagerman said the change of venue wouldn’t pose an obstacle for prosecutors. The court will decide which county the jurors will come from at a later date.
“We can get this jury from wherever,” Hagerman said. “We’re going to try this case, and we’re going to see this thing until the end.”
