In a dramatic turn of events, Young Thug‘s attorney, Brian Steel, filed a motion to disqualify Judge Ural Glanville from presiding over the rapper’s ongoing RICO trial. Steel also requested a mistrial, citing “improper conduct” by the judge and the prosecution.
Allegations of Improper Ex Parte Meeting
Steel claims that on June 10th, Judge Glanville and prosecutors held an “unlawful, improper ex parte meeting” with witness Kenneth Copeland, who testified after receiving immunity from the prosecution. Steel alleges that neither he nor Young Thug received notification of this meeting. He claims this violated the rapper’s “constitutional and statutory rights, including the right to due process, a fair trial, a fair tribunal, ethical prosecutors, and the right to be present at every critical stage of the proceedings.”
YOUNG THUG’S LAWYER, BRIAN STEEL, HAS FILED A MOTION TO RECUSE JUDGE GLANVILLE FROM THE YSL CASE pic.twitter.com/PokiBzCTgf
Advertisement— THUGGERDAILY ひ (@ThuggerDaily) June 17, 2024
In the motion to dismiss Judge Glanville, Steel accuses the judge of showing bias towards the prosecution. This marks the latest twist in the lengthy and controversial trial, which already saw Steel arrested for contempt of court while in the courtroom.
Contempt of Court Incident
The confrontation between Steel and the judge occurred after Steel discovered the meeting with Copeland. Glanville ordered the attorney to reveal his source for the information, but Steel refused, citing confidentiality. This led to Steel’s arrest for contempt of court, a dramatic scene captured on the courtroom’s livestream.
Legal Developments
Steel later avoided prison time after receiving bond, pending the appeal of his contempt charge. His attorney celebrated the legal victory, stating, “We are thrilled that Brian will be home with his family for Father’s Day this weekend. We appreciate how quickly and thoughtfully our appellate courts handled this unfortunate situation.”
The motion to disqualify Judge Glanville and the request for a mistrial are the latest developments in the high-profile YSL RICO case against Young Thug and his co-defendants. The trial has faced controversy, including the use of rap lyrics as evidence, and has drawn national attention.
