Update (July 15):
After Judge Ural Glanville recused himself from the YSL RICO trial, Young Thug’s attorneys released the following statement to XXL.
“Jeffrey Williams is innocent of the charges filed in this indictment, and in order to clear his name, he seeks a speedy trial in which he will receive constitutional guarantees and be presided over by an impartial judge with high moral standards. Prosecutors followed the law and conducted a fair trial,” the statement read. “Sadly, Judge Granville and the prosecutor violated their duties under the law. Mr. Williams is grateful that the reviewing court agreed with him and ordered that Judge Granville be recused and disqualified from presiding over Mr. Williams’ case. We look forward to Trial judges are able to follow the law fairly and faithfully.
Update (July 15):
After Judge Ural Granville recused himself, someone else was assigned to the YSL RICO case. Judge Shukula Ingram will replace Judge Granville, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Original story (July 15):
Judge Ural Granville has been recused from the YSL RICO trial following a petition filed by attorneys for Young Thug and one of his co-defendants.
Judge removed from office YSL case
The YSL RICO case has been on hold for the past two weeks pending a ruling on the defendants’ motion to oust Judge Granville. According to court documents obtained by XXL, the decision was made on Monday (July 15) to remove Glanville from the trial.
“This court has no doubt that Judge Granville can and will continue to hear the case impartially if the recusal motion is denied, but the ‘need to preserve public confidence in the judicial system’ favors excusing Judge Granville from further proceedings.” This case,” court documents read.
Granville will be reassigned to new cases. It is unclear who will succeed him in the YSL case.
XXL has reached out to Young Thug’s attorney and the Fulton County Superior Court for comment.
Read more: Here’s why these 25 rappers are in jail now
Why was Judge Granville removed?
Last month, key prosecution witness Kenneth “Lil Woody” Copeland refused to testify and was jailed over the weekend for failing to testify. The argument between the defense and Judge Granville came to a head. The following Monday, Copeland, prosecutors and Judge Granville held an ex-parte meeting without the defense’s knowledge, which resulted in Copeland returning to the witness stand.
Young Thug’s attorney, Brian Steel, disputed the meeting and asked Judge Granville to appear. Glanville responded by asking Steele to reveal how he learned about the meeting. When Steele refused, Granville ordered him detained and sentenced to 20 days in jail. Attorneys for Young Thug and his co-defendant Deamonte Kendrick responded by filing a motion to remove Glanville from the case, which the court granted after a 10-day break in the trial.
