On Friday, February 13, 2026, Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald ruled that Lil Durk’s rap lyrics and fan comments are admissible in court. Prosecutors will use the material to support murder-for-hire charges. The evidence allegedly links the rapper to a retaliatory plot involving the death of Lul Pab.
Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald delivered a significant ruling on Friday, February 13, 2026. This decision allows prosecutors to use rap lyrics and social media activity against Lil Durk. The rapper faces a high-stakes murder-for-hire trial starting this spring.
Fans and legal experts are closely watching the case. The ruling follows intense arguments from Durk’s legal team. They fought to keep his creative work out of the courtroom entirely.
Court debates rap lyric evidence
The judge reviewed 13 specific lyric excerpts during the hearing. He approved four of these for use at trial. However, the court denied five other excerpts that the government requested.
Four additional lyrics remain in a legal grey area for now. The judge will decide their fate during a hearing on February 23. These lyrics require more context before the court accepts them.
”if the Government can adequately explain their probative value in the context of how they will be presented and admitted at trial” Judge Fitzgerald wrote.
The judge specifically blocked lyrics about following cars and shooting at passengers. He found these descriptions too similar to the actual allegations in the case. This decision follows other courtroom battles over artistic content, recalling when Drake appealed the UMG ruling over his Kendrick Lamar defamation fight during his own legal saga.
Social media and music videos
Prosecutors will also present screenshots from music videos. They claim one video served as a reward for the alleged crimes. The government alleges Durk offered incentives to co-defendants to kill Quando Rondo.
The plot resulted in the death of Lul Pab. He was the cousin of Quando Rondo. This legal move comes as courts handle various celebrity rulings, much like the update when Wunmi shared a fresh court ruling in the Mohbad DNA case late last year.
The court will also allow comments from Durk’s account on X. These posts show the public pressure he faced after King Von’s death. Fans repeatedly urged the rapper to seek revenge for his fallen friend.
Prosecutors also secured permission to use a 2023 podcast interview. Durk spoke with DJ Akademiks about the pressure to retaliate. These statements will help the government build a motive for the alleged crime. Lil Durk’s trial begins on April 13.
