Judge Presiding Over Young Thug Trial Removed from Case
As reported by Complex, Judge Ural Glanville has been recused from the high-profile gang trial involving rapper Young Thug, according to court documents from Fulton County. The decision followed requests from two defendants for his recusal, which were based on concerns over a meeting the judge had with prosecutors and a key witness, Kenneth Copeland. The ruling was made to maintain "the public's confidence in the judicial system." However, the court noted that Glanville could have continued to oversee the case impartially if he had not been recused.
The meeting with Copeland raised concerns about Glanville's impartiality and subsequently led to a pause in the trial. Before Copeland testified, Young Thug's lawyer, Brian Steel, alerted the court to a secret “ex parte” meeting involving Glanville, Copeland, and prosecutors and publicly objected to its private nature. In a contentious exchange, Glanville questioned Steel about how he learned of the meeting, leading to Steel's temporary incarceration for criminal contempt after he refused to disclose his source. Despite this, Steel was allowed to remain in the courtroom and work on the case.
The trial, which began in May 2022, involves accusations that Young Thug's "YSL" was a criminal gang rather than a legitimate record label, leading to charges under Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. It has been plagued by delays, including a protracted jury selection process and ongoing witness testimonies, with expectations that it will continue well into the next year.
