People walk past a placard posted on a newsstand with a message of support for imprisoned rapper Meek Mill, in Philadelphia, Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. Mill’s imprisonment on a probation violation has set off a flurry of legal appeals, criticism of the criminal justice system, newspaper opinion pieces, rallies, billboards and bus ads. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A dance party has erupted in the streets outside a courthouse in Philadelphia as the city’s district attorney says Meek Mill’s convictions should be vacated and he should have a new trial.
The district attorney’s announcement came during a hearing on Monday, but a judge is still refusing to release Mill on bail.
His lawyers say they will reach out to a higher court to get their client released.
Philadelphia-born Mill was sentenced in November to two to four years in prison for violating probation on a roughly decade-old gun and drug case.
Mill’s lawyers have unsuccessfully appealed the sentence multiple times and have called for Judge Genece Brinkley to recuse herself from the case.
A group of supporters are rallying outside of the courthouse and celebrated the announcement from the district attorney.
