Pras Michel Of The Fugees Faces Legal Turmoil As Former Attorney’s Tactics Come Under Scrutiny

Pras Michel, founding member of the Fugees, faced intense scrutiny during a hearing aiming to assess the competence of his former attorney.

In a recent courtroom drama, Pras Michel, the Grammy-winning hip-hop artist and founding member of the Fugees, faced intense scrutiny during a hearing aiming to assess the competence of his former attorney, David Kenner, Vulture reports. Held earlier in January before Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, the hearing delved into revelations about Kenner’s unconventional legal tactics and raised questions about his dedication to Michel’s defense.

“I did not think he should have been convicted. I hope he is granted the retrial he seeks,” stated Kenner.

Kenner, who’d had a prolific career representing hip-hop luminaries including Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg, was criticized for outsourcing the majority of Michel’s casework to a medical malpractice lawyer named Bill Maddix. Shockingly, Maddix, citing the need to be with his adopted pit bulls, insisted on working from home, missing out on crucial trial proceedings. That quirky detail was just one of the revelations during the three-day hearing.

Michel’s new attorneys, from ArentFox Schiff in Washington, D.C., requested a retrial, contending that Kenner’s performance violated Michel’s constitutional right to effective representation. Judge Kollar-Kotelly’s decision to hold this granular hearing suggested she found some merit in their arguments.

Four witnesses, including Kenner himself, testified during the hearing, shedding light on his unorthodox approach and questionable decisions that may have undermined Michel’s defense. Despite Kenner’s past success in high-profile cases, his handling of Michel’s complex legal battle appeared overconfident and improvisational, even self-serving at times.

Michel’s current lead counsel, Peter Zeidenberg, grilled Kenner for over five hours, seeking explanations for his perplexing strategies and decisions. Questions about the delayed filing of motions, the choice of inexperienced lawyers, and the mention of incriminating details during the trial underscored Zeidenberg’s doubts about Kenner’s competence.

The hearing also exposed Kenner’s health issues stemming from a fall in September 2022 that left him with injuries and a doctor’s recommendation to refrain from work. However, Kenner did not tell Michel about the extent of his health challenges.

While the Justice Department argued that Kenner’s lack of success didn’t equate to ineffectiveness, experts observed that the hearing revealed Kenner’s struggles and the serious consequences of them. The judge, who is expected to issue a ruling soon, will decide whether to deny Michel’s motions, grant a retrial, or explore plea-bargain negotiations.