Memphis, TN | Aug 18 — A long‑awaited moment arrives today, Monday, August 18, 2025, as the criminal trial of Hernandez Govan begins in Memphis. Prosecutors accuse Govan of masterminding the November 2021 ambush that killed rapper Young Dolph at a Makeda’s Cookies location, alleging he recruited two accomplices to carry out the hit.
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The trial of Hernandez Govan, accused of orchestrating the 2021 killing of Memphis rapper Young Dolph, moves into its opening stage today with jury selection.
Govan stands accused of ordering the ambush outside Makeda’s Cookies, allegedly paying two shooters to carry out the hit. Those gunmen, Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith, have already faced convictions of their own. Johnson was sentenced to life in prison earlier this year, while Smith agreed to testify against Govan as part of a plea deal.
Today’s process is not yet about evidence or testimony. Jury selection, often one of the most critical stages in a high-profile trial, will determine who sits in judgment of the man prosecutors call the “mastermind” of the murder.
With the case attracting national attention, attorneys are expected to carefully vet potential jurors for biases related to celebrity, music culture, and community ties to Young Dolph.
The prosecution has signaled it will rely on Smith’s testimony, surveillance footage, and financial records to link Govan to the crime. The defense is likely to challenge the credibility of cooperating witnesses and argue that the state’s case rests on shaky ground.
The jury pool itself could shape the trajectory of this trial. In a city still mourning Dolph’s death, prosecutors want jurors who see the case as straightforward murder for hire, while the defense hopes to seat individuals open to questioning motive and credibility.
As jury selection sets to commence, the question remains whether both sides can secure twelve jurors and alternates who are willing to set aside local emotion and celebrity influence. Once that process concludes, opening statements will bring the first major courtroom clash of this long-delayed case.
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