A Philadelphia court clerk tried to shoot her shot by asking Meek Mill for money to help with her son's college tuition. But instead of getting financial help, TMZ reports that she got fired.
When Meek showed up to his probation hearing earlier this week, the clerk, Wanda Chavarria, reportedly slipped him a note to ask for the cash.
"This will probably be my son's last semester at VCU if the tuition isn't paid for the year and unfortunately with my bad credit, I am unable to secure a loan or co-sign a loan for my son," it read. "Anything that you can do is very much appreciated."
But court officials told TMZ that she "irretrievably crossed the line." The firing was confirmed by a spokesman for the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania.
"The Philadelphia courts have always prioritized fairness, impartiality, and the highest ethical standards," said Gabriel Roberts. "The courts fully expect all employees to conduct themselves in a principled and professional manner so as not to infringe upon the neutrality of the courtroom."
Chavarria passed the note while serving in Judge Genece Brinkley's courtroom. The judge later sentenced Meek to two to four years in prison. Although Judge Brinkley reportedly wasn't aware of the note, Meek's lawyers are claiming that the judge likely overheard Chavarria's verbal request for money in the courtroom. It's uncertain whether that will be sufficient to change Meek's sentence.
Supporters—including some well-known ones—have since come to Meek's defense, declaring that the rapper's sentence is too harsh. Judge Brinkley is also undergoing an FBI investigation for allegations that she was biased in Meek's case after she checked into a Philadelphia’s Broad Street Ministry to see if he was doing his community service. He was, but she later criticized him for sorting clothes for the homeless instead of taking her suggestion of serving food to the homeless. However, newly-released court documents may show claims of bias to be unfounded.
