Ja Morant Did Act In Self-Defense During Pickup Game Gone Wrong, Says Judge Chumney

BYZachary Horvath1.9K Views
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 06: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts after a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on March 06, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Judge Chumney said it was going to take some extra time to come to a decision in December 2023. Now, we have our answer.

Over the last year and change, Ja Morant's NBA career has taken a turn for the worse. Of course, those issues have not just been on the court. Most know the Memphis Grizzlies star was suspended for 25 games after instances of waving guns on social media. However, he has also been dealing with lawsuit sent in by 17-year-old Joshua Holloway for assault, after a pickup game turned into a brawl. In late December 2023, Judge Carol Chumney said that a decision would not be made until 2024.

But according to Bleacher Report, we now have a massive update on it. Judge Chumney has come to the conclusion that Ja Morant did act in self-defense after Holloway threw the ball at him. The Tennessee judge said that Ja "enjoys a presumption of civil immunity" under the state's self-defense immunity statute. Furthermore, the burden of proof now falls into the hands of Holloway's legal team to try and change the ruling.

Ja Morant's Name Is Partially Cleared After This Judge Ruling

While he is not totally in the clear, he has to be feeling better. Ja was adamant that he only threw the punch first "to protect [himself]" after Holloway got in his face. Hopefully, all of these situations have helped Ja recover mentally so he can stay focused on hooping. Finally, there will be a trial later on instead of later this month.

What are your thoughts on the judge saying Ja Morant was using self-defense in the altercation with the teenager? Do you think he will wind up not being charged with any crimes, why or why not? Does this change your opinion on the Memphis Grizzlies star? Will he still have a successful NBA career? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Ja Morant and this court case. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on around the world of sports.

About The Author
Zachary Horvath is one of the Music Freelance News Writers at HotNewHipHop and has held that title since August 2023. Prior to this position, he held another freelance gig covering local high school football, girls and boys varsity basketball, in addition to recapping Cleveland Cavaliers games remotely. He's taken the previous experience and used it to become a jack of all trades at HotNewHipHop. Zach has thoroughly enjoyed tackling some of the trending topics in sports, with a larger focus on hip-hop and pop culture. Some of those include Bronny James's draft stock, a multitude of angles swirling around the Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef, as well as Diddy's arrest and lawsuits. Separate from the headlines that everyone wants to hear about, he was fortunate enough to help spread Zaytoven's current thoughts at the time around mid-December in 2023. Even though being able to give his expertise on these stories is fulfilling, being able to share his passion for releases trumps that ever so slightly. Having the chance to express his excitement indirectly about what he thinks our readers should be checking out/revisiting grows his passion for writing that much more.
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