-Tamara’Shanay-

Cousins!

Actor Jussie Smollett is taking action against a recently issued guilty verdict in hopes of being granted a new trial or deemed not guilty as he claims that his constitutional rights were violated!

The former Empire star alongside his legal team argues within a 83 page forwarded document that the court blocked them from participating within the jury selection process, reports TMZ.

Jussie’s attorney state that the court had also made countless errors leading up to the trail and while the trial pended.

In court documents by NBC News, Jussie’s legal team argues that they were unable to ask questions to potential jurors, which they feel prevented them from uncovering any possible biases against their client due to the exposure of the case.

The legal documents note that a juror allegedly informed the court that a series of her family members had been or currently are members of law enforcement. They argue that the court did not inquire further into her statements and didn’t allow them to do so either.

Sources confirm that the actor’s defense team has stated that evidence forwarded by prosecutors within the trial was, “insufficient and inconsistent so that no reasonable trier of fact could have found Mr. Smollett guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and thus there is evidence that the jury verdict was contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence.”

The court document continues, “As such, the Defendant now respectfully requests that his convictions be vacated or in the alternative, that the Court grant the Defendant a new trial.”

As we previously reported Jussie was found guilty of 5 charges including felony disorderly conduct however he was not found guilty of aggravated battery.

The charges derive from a 2019 incident where Jussie claims he was an alleged victim of a homophobic attack, where he states he was punched, kicked and had a chemical thrown in his face and a noose tied around his neck.