A federal judge has agreed to push back Lil Durk’s upcoming murder for hire trial, granting a request from several of his co-defendants for more time to prepare. The trial, originally set to begin Jan. 20, is now expected to start later this spring.
Durk, whose real name is Durk Banks, appeared in a Los Angeles federal courtroom on Wednesday as U.S. District Judge Michael Fitzgerald considered the motion.
While the defense asked for a delay until early May, the judge declined to set a firm date, citing scheduling limitations. He said the case could begin as early as late April.
Three of Durk’s five co-defendants told the court they needed additional time to review discovery materials. The rapper did not join the request. “We would have been ready to try the case in two weeks,” his attorney Drew Findling said, calling the matter “a complex case.”
Durk has pleaded not guilty to charges alleging he orchestrated a plot targeting Quando Rondo, stemming from the 2020 killing of Banks’ close friend King Von. Prosecutors allege the plan led to a deadly 2022 shooting that killed Rondo’s cousin. The court is expected to address additional pretrial issues in the coming weeks.
Durk briefly acknowledged his wife, India Royale, who attended the hearing. His legal team also raised concerns about his confinement conditions, claiming he has been held in near isolation, which they said could impact his mental health.