I have always thought April 30 was important because it’s my birthday, but for Lil Boosie I concede the day has a tad more significance–it’s the day his first degree murder trial is scheduled to begin.  Two important updates here.  First, The Advocate reports that the death penalty is now officially off the table.  If convicted, Boosie will face life in prison. Second, and more interesting, is that Boosie’s jury will be anonymous, meaning that jurors will be referred to by number rather than name.  This is apparently uncommon, but attorneys on both sides say it’s because of the high profile nature of the trial.  Of course, when I read that prosecutors requested it, I immediately assumed it was in response to–or to create the appearance of–possible jury tampering, something Boosie’s attorney’s were quick to dismiss.

One last thing caught my attention:  Prosecutors have asked for a sample of Boosie’s handwriting, and one of Boosie’s lawyers has suggested that this may be an attempt to tie him to certain rap lyrics.  I’ve written about this before, but it looks like prosecutors are going to use Boosie’s lyrics against him, which of course raises all kinds of issues.  I don’t know what the judge and jury will look like, but if it’s a mostly white panel in the deep south, then rap could end up going on trial along with Boosie.  And that’s a verdict I feel like I can predict already.