An

appeals court has upheld a ruling by a Fayette

County judge that could send a local hip-hop star

to jail for skipping jury duty.

Superior

Court Judge Chris Edwards sentenced Jermaine

Dupri Maudlin to 72 hours in jail last summer for

contempt of court, after Maudlin missed a March

jury duty appointment to perform in a concert in

New Jersey.

The

Georgia Court of Appeals has affirmed that

ruling, although Mauldin's attorney is continuing

the appeals process, meaning he is still a free

man.

According

to court records, Maudlin was summoned for jury

duty the week of Monday, March 1. He arrived 30

minutes late that day and was sworn in as a

prospective juror.

He

was excused until Wednesday of that week, but

when he did not reappear, the contempt charges

were set in motion.

hearing was conducted May 13, where attorneys for

Dupri said that he had a prior commitment to

perform at the Meadowlands in New Jersey the

night of March 3, the day of his absence in

Fayette Superior Court. The concert date was set

before he received his jury summons, attorneys

said.

It

was also argued that Mauldin, who had received

three previous waivers from jury service, went

home the first day with the mistaken impression

that he was excused for the entire week.

He

admitted to the court at the May hearing that his

celebrity status does not exempt him from jury

duty, and he apologized to the court, offering to

perform community service. That was not good

enough for Edwards, who ordered him to report to

the county jail that afternoon.

The

defendant remained free, however, when his

attorneys filed the appeal.

Attorney

Michael Tyler of Atlanta said Tuesday that he has

filed a notice to appeal the most recent court

decision.

<!--

-----------