Chicago rapper Lil Durk will spend the upcoming festive season behind bars after his trial date was officially moved.
Lil Durk trial gets pushed back
Court records confirm that the Lil Durk trial, originally set for 14 October 2025, has now been postponed to 20 January 2026 at 08:30 (15:30 SAST) .
Judge Michael W Fitzgerald ruled that the case was too complex to proceed as originally scheduled.
The judge explained that because there are multiple defendants and large amounts of evidence to examine, rushing into trial could result in “a miscarriage of justice.”
In simple terms, the court believes more preparation time is needed to ensure fairness.
In addition to the new trial date, a pretrial conference — a meeting where lawyers and the judge discuss trial readiness — is now set for 7 January 2026 at 10:00 (17:00 SAST) .
What we know about the case
Lil Durk, born Durk Derrick Banks, was arrested in October 2024 after federal authorities tied him to an alleged murder-for-hire plot targeting fellow rapper Quando Rondo.
The case stems from the August 2022 killing of Saviay’a Robinson, Rondo’s cousin. Prosecutors allege the attack was meant as retaliation for the 2020 murder of King Von, a close friend and collaborator of Durk.
According to the indictment, five men linked to Durk’s Only The Family (OTF) label travelled from Chicago to Los Angeles to track down Rondo. The group is accused of using an OTF-linked credit card to book flights and cover logistics.
Prosecutors also allege that vehicles with fake plates, hotel bookings, and weapons were arranged for the ambush.
Although Quando Rondo was believed to be the target, Robinson was shot and killed instead. Prosecutors claim that two of the accused men were later arrested in Chicago while others were extradited to California.
Lil Durk has not been directly charged with pulling the trigger but is accused of being connected to the wider conspiracy.