Young Thug’s YSL RICO trial, fraught with complications, now has a third judge presiding. Judge Ural Glanville was recently removed from the case.
The change followed a motion filed by Young Thug’s lawyer, Brian Steel, seeking Glanville’s dismissal after he held a meeting with prosecutors and state witness Kenneth Copeland without informing the rapper’s legal team.
In Glanville’s place, Judge Shakura Ingram was appointed. However, her tenure was brief. On Wednesday, July 17, Ingram recused herself due to a past romantic relationship between her former courthouse deputy and a co-defendant in the case. The swift turnover continued as Judge Paige Reese Whitaker stepped in hours later. Whitaker, a judge in Fulton County since 2017, previously served as a Fulton County prosecutor and worked at the state Attorney General’s office.
The rapid judicial changes have added to the already complex and high-profile nature of the trial. Both Ingram and Whitaker were selected randomly, according to reports. In the wake of Glanville’s removal, Brian Steel emphasized that Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffrey Williams, is innocent of the charges. Steel highlighted the need for a speedy and fair trial, with an impartial judge and ethical prosecutors.
Steel expressed dissatisfaction with Judge Glanville and the prosecutors, accusing them of failing to uphold their legal duties. The reviewing court’s decision to remove Glanville was a victory for Young Thug’s defense team, who now anticipate a trial conducted by a judge committed to fairness and adherence to the law.
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Amid these judicial shifts, attorneys for Young Thug’s co-defendant, fellow YSL rapper Yak Gotti (Deamonte Kendrick), announced plans to file a motion for a mistrial. The controversy surrounding Glanville originated from a June private meeting with Copeland and prosecutors, a meeting critics argue should have occurred in open court.
