Young Thug‘s trial has been delayed after its judge has been removed over misconduct allegations.
The removal was prompted by the rapper’s lawyer Brian Steel, who was arrested mid-trial for alleged contempt of court in June.
Steel was reportedly held in contempt for suggesting an alleged conversation between Judge Ural Glanville, witness Kenneth Copeland and prosecutors led to Copeland being intimidated or coerced ahead of taking the stand.
Copeland himself was held in contempt last Friday (June 7) for suddenly refusing to testify despite being granted immunity.
Now, Steel has filed a motion accusing the judge of holding the “improper” meeting without including defendants and their attorneys. He has requested Glanville to be replaced with another judge to oversee the trial.
Meanwhile, Glanville announced in a Monday hearing without jurors (on break until July 8) that he would provide the transcript of his meeting with Copeland, cancel the next hearing “indefinitely” and send the attorney’s motions to recuse to another judge.
The Atlanta rapper was originally arrested in May 2022 on gang-related charges and was later charged with seven additional felonies.
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He was arrested alongside fellow rapper Gunna, who are both involved with the musical collective YSL (Young Stoner Life), which has been accused of being “a criminal street gang”.
Both men have denied their charges, with Young Thug having his bail denied three times.
Young Thug’s case has been significantly notable for the use of his rap lyrics to accuse him of his YSL gang affiliation in trial. Using lyrics in criminal trials has been broadly criticised “as a convenient way to inject racial bias and confusion into the criminal justice process.”
In other news, lawyers have used Snoop Dogg’s Super Bowl performance to prove Young Thug isn’t in a gang.