The judge overseeing the long-running racketeering trial against Atlanta rapper Young Thug has been removed, causing more delays in the already lengthy legal process. The charges against Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Lamar Williams, were put on hold after allegations of misconduct were raised by his lawyers and co-defendant Deamonte Kendrick.
The lawyers accused Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville of holding an “improper” meeting with prosecutors and a key witness, prompting Judge Rachel Krause to order the case to be assigned to a different judge, Judge Shukura Ingram. While Glanville maintained that the meeting was proper and no tactical advantage was gained, the decision was made to preserve the public’s confidence in the judicial system.
The trial, which has included testimony from dozens of witnesses, has been progressing slowly since Young Thug’s arrest in May 2022. Prosecutors have accused the rapper of co-founding a violent street gang in Atlanta and hitting him with racketeering charges under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (Rico) Act.
Young Thug, 32, is also facing charges of gang, drug, and gun crimes and is standing trial with five others indicted with him. With the judge’s removal causing further delays, the defense is seeking a fair trial to clear Young Thug’s name. Kendrick’s lawyer mentioned the possibility of requesting a mistrial following the recusal. The outcome of the trial remains uncertain as the legal proceedings continue to unfold.
