Jay-Z faces legal blow in teen rape case as judge rejects request

Rapper Jay-Z (real name Shawn Carter) has suffered a legal blow in the ongoing scandal surrounding the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl.

New York Judge Analisa Torres denied his request for an expedited trial and criticized his attorney, Alex Spiro, for what she described as “aggressive tactics” and “insulting” attacks on the plaintiff’s lawyers, as reported by the Daily Mail and New York Post.

Plaintiff Allowed to Remain Anonymous

In addition to rejecting the motion, Judge Torres ruled that the woman accusing Jay-Z and fellow rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs—who is currently in custody—of rape can remain anonymous for the time being. The plaintiff claims she was assaulted by the two musicians at an afterparty following the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards in New York City. At the time, she was a teenager. She alleges that the trauma has left her suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder to this day.

Judge Criticizes Legal Tactics

Judge Torres’ decision strongly sided with the alleged victim. In a five-page statement, she condemned Spiro’s courtroom strategy, stating: “The relentless filing of combative motions, inflammatory language, and personal attacks by Carter’s attorney is inappropriate, a waste of judicial resources, and a tactic unlikely to benefit his client.”

Spiro’s repeated motions to disclose the identity of the plaintiff, referred to as Jane Doe, and to dismiss the case were also rebuked. The judge made it clear: “The court will not expedite proceedings simply because the attorney demands it.”

Jay-Z Denies Allegations

Jay-Z, 55, has consistently denied the accusations, labeling them as baseless. Meanwhile, Sean Combs, also 55, is scheduled to face trial for unrelated sexual misconduct charges in May 2025.

This latest legal development underscores the seriousness of the allegations and the court’s commitment to ensuring fair treatment for the plaintiff, while Jay-Z continues to fight to clear his name.