The judge overseeing the long-running racketeering trial against Atlanta rapper Young Thug has been removed from the case, causing further delays and uncertainty in the legal proceedings.
The charges against Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Lamar Williams, were put on hold after his lawyers requested the judge be recused due to allegations of misconduct. The lawyers accused Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville of holding an “improper” meeting with prosecutors and a key witness in June.
While Judge Rachel Krause did not fault Glanville for the meeting, she ordered the case to be assigned to a different judge, Judge Shukura Ingram. The decision was made to preserve the public’s confidence in the judicial system, according to reports.
Young Thug’s lawyer maintains his client’s innocence and seeks a fair trial to clear his name. The trial, which has included testimony from dozens of witnesses, has been moving slowly since Young Thug’s arrest in May 2022.
Prosecutors have accused the rapper of co-founding a violent street gang in Atlanta and hit him with racketeering charges under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (Rico) Act. Young Thug, 32, is also facing gang, drug, and gun crime charges and is standing trial with five others.
The removal of the judge has raised the possibility of a mistrial, according to Deamonte Kendrick’s lawyer. The legal saga surrounding Young Thug continues to unfold as the case faces more delays and complications.
