R. Kelly Under Mandatory Jail Quarantine, Lawyer Wants Trial Postponed

By Alyssa Wilson Published: July 6, 2021

R. Kelly Under Mandatory Jail Quarantine, Lawyer Wants Trial Postponed

FILE - In this June 26, 2019 file photo, R&B singer R. Kelly, center, arrives at the Leighton Criminal Court building for an arraignment on sex-related felonies in Chicago. Federal prosecutors announced charges Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, against three men accused of threatening and intimidating women who have accused Kelly of abuse, including one man suspected of setting fire to a vehicle in Florida. (AP Photo/Amr Alfiky, File)

By: Alyssa Wilson

The new lawyers for R. Kelly are asking for his upcoming trial in New York City to be postponed after alleging they haven’t had enough time to prepare. Kelly is currently undergoing a mandatory jail quarantine.

According to the Associated Press, U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly received a letter from Deveraux Cannick Monday about Kelley’s 14-day quarantine after he was transferred from a prison in Chicago on June 22.

On June 9, Kelly told a federal judge he fired two of his defense lawyers. Cannick joined the disgraced singer’s legal team on June 21. In the letter to Donnelly, Cannick noted that he hasn’t been able to meet with Kelly in person because of the quarantine.

Kelly’s 14-day quarantine is set to end on Tuesday. Cannick said proceeding at this rate would violate his client’s rights. “Robert is anxious to have his day in court; however not at the expense of his Sixth Amendment rights,” he said.

Kelley is accused of “leading an enterprise” made up of his managers and other employees who helped him recruit women and girls for sex. The 54-year-old denies ever abusing anyone.

Federal prosecutors have not yet responded to the request to delay the trial.

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