Key Points Summary: Menendez brothers

• Judge denies DA’s motion to withdraw resentencing, letting it proceed
• Erik and Lyle Menendez to return to court May 13 and 14
• DA Hochman cites “narcissistic tendencies” and prison contraband use
• Attorney Mark Geragos withdraws bid to disqualify Hochman
• Geragos urges judge to focus on law, not media attention
• Cell phone and drug allegations against brothers resurface
• Judge Jesic holds firm amid political and legal pressure

Menendez Brothers Back in Spotlight as Judge Clears Path for Resentencing

The Menendez brothers’ long-running legal saga took a dramatic turn Friday. A Los Angeles judge ruled that the resentencing process for Erik and Lyle Menendez will go forward — despite attempts by the district attorney’s office to derail it.

Judge Michael Jesic denied District Attorney Nathan Hochman’s motion to withdraw a previously filed motion for resentencing. The decision means the brothers are back in court on May 13 and 14.

The ruling follows a heated courtroom exchange in Van Nuys. The judge also rejected the defense’s attempt to pull back its own earlier motion to disqualify Hochman. Defense attorney Mark Geragos said afterward, “I didn’t want to waste any more time. Let’s move forward.”

Brothers Return to Court Next Week

The resentencing effort stems from changes in California law and new evaluations of the brothers’ conduct while behind bars. Lyle and Erik were convicted in 1996 of murdering their parents in 1989, a case that shocked the nation and dominated media coverage.

With a risk assessment report still in dispute, the upcoming court dates are critical. The hearings will help determine whether the brothers qualify for resentencing under current guidelines.

Cell Phones and Drugs in Prison Raise Eyebrows

Los Angeles County DA Hochman isn’t convinced the brothers have changed. On Friday, he cited “narcissistic tendencies” and said Lyle was caught with a contraband cell phone just months ago, on Nov. 24, 2024.

Erik, according to Hochman, was found conspiring with someone outside prison using an illegal phone in January. The DA claims Erik also admitted to trading drugs and giving inmates advice on tax fraud.

Menendez brothers: Geragos Downplays Allegations

Mark Geragos, longtime attorney for the Menendez brothers, dismissed the cell phone violations as minor. “Last time I checked, a cell phone is not a super strike,” he said.

He added that former DA George Gascón had already been notified about the incidents. “I was the one who called it in,” Geragos said. He’s urging the court to stay focused on the law, not distractions.

DA Raises Questions About Character

Hochman insists the brothers haven’t shown enough growth. “They act out to meet their own needs,” he said. He questioned the sincerity of their participation in prison reform programs.

Despite the controversies, Geragos remains hopeful. “We have the utmost faith in Judge Jesic,” he told reporters. “They should be re-sentenced.”

Political Drama Meets Legal Fight

The case is testing more than just legal arguments — it’s becoming a political chess match. Critics say the DA’s reversal is about optics. Supporters of resentencing say it’s time to revisit a decades-old verdict shaped by sensational coverage and societal taboos.

Decision Nears in High-Stakes Case

The fate of Erik and Lyle Menendez now lies in the hands of Judge Jesic. Will the court see them as reformed inmates — or repeat manipulators?

The answer could come next week, as the world watches a trial that refuses to fade away.