Tory Lanez, the popular Toronto rapper involved in a shooting case with Megan Thee Stallion, has been denied the request to change his legal representation. This ruling was made on July 12, according to legal journalist Meghann Cuniff.
Lanez had expressed a desire to replace his current lawyer, Matthew Barhoma, with Ronda Renee Dixon. However, Dixon had previously mentioned in an interview with Cuniff on “Legal Affairs and Trials” that she had experienced conflicts with another attorney on Lanez’s team, Miami attorney Jose Baez. Dixon claimed that Baez refused to communicate with her, and she criticized Lanez’s current legal team for making important decisions without consulting the artist.
Dixon’s concerns about Lanez’s representation led her to file a motion arguing that the rapper had been subjected to unfair treatment while in jail due to his celebrity status. She accused Lanez’s current team of acting on his behalf without considering his wishes, and she emphasized that his confinement violated his constitutional rights. Dixon pointed out that the conditions Lanez is facing are similar to those experienced by individuals convicted of more serious crimes like serial rape and murder.
Although Dixon, Lanez, and Barhoma had previously signed a document requesting a change in counsel, the judge denied the motion without providing a public explanation.
Deputy DAs Alex Bott and Kathy Ta were in the courtroom but are now in hallway. A very thin crowd – it’s me and Terri from City News Service repping the press corps.
Ronda Dixon walked out a moment ago and someone asked if she’s Lanez’s new defense attorney.
“Maybe. We’ll see.”
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) July 12, 2023
Well, that was even weirder than I expected.
Ronda Dixon is NOT going to be Tory Lanez's new lawyer. Jose Baez remains his lead counsel, and Ed Welbourn, an experienced Orange County criminal defense attorney, is going to sub in for Matthew Barhoma. Sentencing is still Aug. 7.
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) July 12, 2023
In the meantime, the popular rapper has experienced several delays in his sentencing. Initially set for January 2, it was rescheduled to February 28 due to a change in legal representation. However, the sentencing was postponed again when the rapper requested a new trial, which was ultimately denied.
Currently, the artist is awaiting sentencing on August 7. Tory Lanez is potentially facing a significant prison term of 22 years and eight months for the shooting incident involving Megan Thee Stallion. Additionally, there is a possibility of him being deported back to his home country of Canada. The incident continues to have a profound impact on both the musician’s career and personal life.
