Tory Lanez has once again made changes to his legal representation, this time adding a new attorney, Thomas Edward “Ed” Welbourn, to his team. Lanez, who is awaiting sentencing for the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion, had his longtime attorney, Jose Baez, confirm this decision in court. Baez, known for defending Casey Anthony, made it clear that no other attorneys would be joining the team.
This update follows recent legal trouble for Tory Lanez when the court denied his request to replace Matthew Barhoma with Ronda Renee Dixon as his counsel. Dixon had expressed that Lanez wanted her to work alongside Baez, but their relationship had some issues as he wouldn’t communicate with her. Dixon accused Lanez’s current legal team of taking advantage of him and acting without his input.
However, Baez, as the lead attorney for the case, made it clear that he did not recommend Dixon and advised his client against hiring her. The situation regarding Lanez’s legal team remains dynamic as the rapper’s sentencing on August 7 approaches.
Dixon also shared a drafted motion arguing that Tory Lanez’s celebrity status has led to cruel and unusual punishment in jail, and she requested his release on these grounds. She emphasized that Lanez has viable post-conviction litigation, and therefore, the court should consider granting him bail. She asserted that Lanez’s conviction does not carry the death penalty, and he intends to apply for probation, file an appeal, and pursue other post-conviction remedies.
Dixon criticized the Sheriff’s decision to confine Lanez in a manner typically reserved for those convicted of serious offenses like serial rape and murder, solely because of his fame and notoriety.
However, despite Dixon’s intention to file the motion, she later decided to withdraw it. Judge Herriford mentioned that he never formally recognized the motion, but it was still entered into the record, as Dixon was never officially appointed as Tory Lanez’s lawyer.