Lil Durk Pushes for Bond Again in Federal Murder-for-Hire Case as Trial Looms
Lil Durk is once again seeking release from jail as he awaits trial in his high-profile federal murder-for-hire case. The Chicago rapper, whose legal name is Durk Derrick Banks, remains in custody following a string of denied bond attempts — the latest of which came earlier this month. Now, his legal team is pushing back against that ruling in hopes of securing his release ahead of his October trial.
According to newly surfaced court documents obtained by AllHipHop, Durk’s attorney Christy O’Connor filed an “Application for Review or Reconsideration of Order Setting Conditions of Release or Detention” on Wednesday. The motion aims to challenge Magistrate Judge Patricia Donahue’s May 8 decision to deny Durk bond despite the rapper offering a robust proposal worth over $2 million.
In the failed bond package, Durk’s team pledged $900,000 in real estate assets, $1 million in cash from his label, Alamo Records, and an additional $150,000 from a business associate. They also proposed a comprehensive security setup that included 24/7 private armed guards, electronic ankle monitoring, and full court supervision. The goal was to prove that Durk would pose no threat or flight risk if released.
However, Judge Donahue remained unconvinced. In her ruling, she cited the violent nature of the charges and pointed to the fact that Durk allegedly made plans to flee the country after several of his co-defendants were apprehended. Authorities arrested him near Miami International Airport in October 2024, a detail that played heavily into the court’s decision to deny release.
Durk faces serious federal charges in what prosecutors have described as a murder-for-hire conspiracy, though full details of the case remain under tight legal restrictions. The gravity of the allegations has placed him under intense public and legal scrutiny — and has significantly limited his ability to resume normal life or professional activities while behind bars.
Despite the circumstances, the rapper has been vocal about maintaining his mental and spiritual health while in jail. In a recent phone interview with DJ Akademiks, Durk opened up about his mindset and how he’s spending his time in custody. One unexpected highlight: he’s learning Arabic.
“I’ve been good, man,” Durk said. “Mentally, spiritually, I’ve been on top of my s**t. I’ll be back out there, you hear me? Oh, thank you, I need all the prayers. I appreciate you. […] Yeah, you know, ain’t nothing changed, bro. I’ve just been focused on life, my family and stuff like that. I’m trying to learn to speak Arabic in here. It’s a couple of guys in here that know how to speak Arabic fluently. So I’m just learning the different words and tightening up my Arabic. Just getting my knowledge together.”
While fans await more updates, one of the biggest questions remains unanswered: when does Lil Durk get out of jail? Unless his legal team can convince a higher court to overturn the bond denial, Durk will remain in custody at least until his trial date later this year. Until then, supporters and critics alike will be watching closely as this case continues to unfold.
