Why the Young Thug case is at risk of being derailed

Judge Ural Glanville removed from the case amid complaints of misconduct

The highly publicized criminal racketeering trial against rapper Young Thug took an unexpected turn on Monday when Judge Ural Glanville was formally removed from the case. This followed complaints that he and prosecutors had held an improper meeting with a key prosecution witness, Kenneth Copeland. The prosecution alleges that Young Thug was the head of the violent criminal street gang, Young Slime Life, and accuses him of criminal racketeering, gang conspiracy, drug and weapons charges, as well as other violent crimes, including murder and attempted armed robbery.

The Need to Preserve the Public’s Confidence in the Judicial System

In a written order, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Rachel Krause, who was assigned to hear recusal motions from Young Thug and another co-defendant, supported the decision to remove Glanville, citing a need to preserve the public’s confidence in the judicial system. Although Judge Krause found nothing “inherently improper” about the meeting, she criticized Glanville’s handling of the matter, suggesting that his defensive posture raised questions about his ability to be objective.

The Case May be derailed because of Growing Concerns

There are concerns among those close to the case that it might also be derailed, giving more fodder to the prosecutor’s political critics in a year where she is seeking a second term as Fulton County’s top prosecutor. Already, the case has been the longest-running criminal trial in Georgia history, at 18 months and counting, raising further concerns that the trial may never be concluded.

Issues with Jury Selection Length and Testimony Delays

Even before the latest turmoil, there were concerns about Glanville’s handling of the case, including his decision to allow jury selection to drag on for 10 months, as well as weeks-long breaks in testimony and other delays. Prosecutors were only halfway through their witness list of more than 200 when the trial was halted abruptly on June 10. The latest decision to remove Glanville has raised further questions about the trial’s future. It is unclear when a new judge will be assigned to the case or when the trial will resume.

Other High-Profile Racketeering Cases in Fulton County

The Young Thug prosecution is one of two high-profile criminal racketeering cases being led by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Last summer, Willis brought charges against former president Donald Trump and more than a dozen of his associates, alleging that they criminally conspired to try to overturn Trump’s 2020 election loss in Georgia. That case is now at a standstill as Trump and others appeal a judge’s decision to allow Willis to continue prosecuting the case amid complaints that she had an improper romantic relationship with the former lead prosecutor in the case.

Originally Post From https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/07/15/young-thug-judge-removed/

Judge in Young Thug trial ordered off case by court