Young Thug’s Attorney Seeks Judge’s Removal from RICO Trial

Young Thug’s attorney, Brian Steel, filed a motion on Monday, June 17, to remove Chief Superior Court Judge Ural D. Glanville from overseeing the rapper’s RICO case. The request cited alleged misconduct and concerns over impartiality, calling for a mistrial in this high-profile case.

Steel argued that Glanville showed bias in favor of the prosecution, particularly pointing to incidents on June 10, when Steel was detained, and throughout the trial. The accusations included an undisclosed ex parte meeting between Glanville and key witness Kenneth “YSL Woody” Copeland, which Steel claimed could compromise the trial’s integrity.

“The court violated the law by failing its duty to recuse from presiding over this contempt proceeding,” the motion stated. “In such proceedings where the announcement of punishment is delayed, and where the contumacious conduct was directed toward the judge or where the judge reacted to the contumacious conduct in such manner as to become involved in the controversy, the judge may give the attorney notice of specific charges, but the hearing, including the attorney’s opportunity to be heard, must be conducted by another judge.”

This filing followed an earlier incident in June when Steel was held in contempt of court and briefly detained. He was ordered to serve 20 days in Fulton County Jail, to be served over weekends, for refusing to disclose his source of information about the supposed meeting between Judge Glanville, prosecutors, and Copeland.

“So, I understand that you’re upset with me, but I don’t know what I did. I’m doing what everyone should do,” Steel responded after being questioned by Glanville. “You influenced the witness based upon information belief, and I’d like to have that all on the record. I don’t know why that’s so hard to do.”

An emergency motion granted Steel bond on June 12, allowing him to avoid jail time while his contempt charge is under appeal.