A Florida judge was not impressed Thursday when an attorney for rapper Rick Ross tried to secure a faster release for his client on the grounds that he is a celebrity.
“I have no idea who you are,” Judge Mindy Glazer told the rapper during the hearing.
Ross, whose real name is William Roberts II, turned himself in to authorities early Thursday morning and was charged with two counts of battery, TMZ reported.
The charges came just a few days after his ex-girlfriend, Jazzma Kendrick, very publicly accused the rapper of assaulting her.
LAWYER PLAYS THE CELEBRITY CARD
Later Thursday, Ross appeared remotely in court, where his attorney, Bradley Horenstein, asked Glazer to expedite his client’s release from Miami-Dade County Jail.
The reason Horenstein gave: Ross “is a celebrity.”
Glazer immediately pushed back.
“What does that mean?” the judge asked.
Horenstein tried to explain his request, pointing to his client’s safety.
“I don’t know to whatever degree your honor can, but I’d ask that his release be expedited,” the attorney said. “He’s in a red jumpsuit and for purposes of his safety, I don’t know what your honor can do, but –”
“I don’t know,” Glazer replied, clearly unmoved by the argument.
JUDGE SAYS ROSS WILL BE TREATED LIKE EVERYONE ELSE
The judge then turned her attention directly to Ross and made it clear that his fame would not earn him any special treatment in her courtroom.
“Hi, Mr. Roberts,” Glazer said. “I have no idea who you are, except somebody here in the court who’s going to be treated fairly just like everybody else here.”
Video of the exchange was posted on X by WSVN journalist Sheldon Fox.
ROSS DENIES ALLEGATIONS, PLEADS NOT GUILTY
Ross has denied the allegations made by Kendrick and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In a statement to TMZ, the rapper’s legal team insisted he is the victim of a false accusation and raised questions about his ex-girlfriend’s motives.
“William Roberts II, professionally known as Rick Ross, is being wrongfully accused by an ex-girlfriend whose true motivations are unclear,” Ross’s lawyers said.
The attorneys also took aim at the timing of the accusation, noting that a police report was not filed until well after the alleged incident.
“The ex did not even file a police report until a month after the claimed incident allegedly took place,” the statement read.
The legal team maintained that Ross is innocent and asked the public to hold off on drawing any conclusions while the case moves forward.
“Mr. Roberts is innocent and has pled not guilty to the charges,” the lawyers said. “He respectfully requests that his friends, fans and the general public not prejudge the situation and allow the judicial process to run its course.”
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