A judge has refused to recuse himself from the cases of four suspects charged in the killing of Memphis rapper Young Dolph. 

Shelby County Criminal Court Division VII Judge Lee Coffee made the determination during a motion hearing Friday, April 14. 

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Luke Evans, the attorney for Justin Johnson, who is one of two defendants accused of shooting Young Dolph, filed a motion in December to have the case reassigned to a different courtroom after Coffee ordered Johnson’s phone privileges be suspended, except with his attorney.

Coffee said the order was made after Johnson, whose rap name is Straight Drop, recorded a rap song over the phone, which was posted to YouTube.

“It’s my obligation as a judge to make sure that Justin Johnson receives a fair trial,” Coffee said. “And I’m concerned about his ability to receive a fair trial if he’s releasing communications.”

Evans and Chief Jailer Kirk Fields provided testimony during the hearing. 

“What (Fields) testified to is it’s a safety and security violation that is, in fact, against their policies and standards and practices, to make those kind of recordings,” Coffee said. “And what he testified to, is that it’s not so much the safety of other people, but his safety, the defendant’s safety.”

Young Dolph suspects to be kept separated

Evans argued that there was no hearing before the court made a determination to revoke Johnson’s phone privileges.

Johnson is indicted on seven charges, including first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

The other three defendants are his cousin Jermarcus Johnson, Hernandez Govan and Cornelius Smith.