Meek Mill's Lawyer Joe Tacopina on Criminal Justice System
Meek Mill has finally been released from prison and his case is shining a light on the criminal justice system.
“This case was one that when I first heard about the facts, quite frankly, I just didn’t believe them,” explained the hip-hop star’s attorney Joe Tacopina.
Meek Mill, who was born Robert Rihmeek Williams was originally convicted at 19 of a drug and weapons charges in 2008, due to the sole testimony of police officer Reggie Graham, who was on a list of 29 cops suspected of planting evidence and lying in court.
Mill has been on probation for nearly 10 years of his life and, In November 2017, he was sentenced to up to 4 years in prison for technical violations of his probation. But now that the credibility of Reggie Graham’s testimony has been called into question by the district attorney, the rapper is in the process of trying to get a new trial.
The Philadelphia Supreme Court ordered Meek Mill be released on bail, which overruled Judge Genece Brinkley’s denial of his bail after she set his release hearing for June 2018. He might finally be free, but his case has directly helped others, too. Over 105 cases that involve cop accusation or corruption are being re-evaluated, and so far, 3 people cases have been dismissed.