FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A new filing in the ongoing YSL RICO trial could shake up the ongoing case against Jeffery Williams — better known as rapper Young Thug — and his co-defendants.
Brian Steel, who represents Young Thug, in a filing Monday outlined his concerns over what's known as an ex parte meeting that is now at the center of the trial. Judge Ural Glanville, prosecutors and witness Kenneth Copeland a.k.a. "Lil Woody" were present for the June meeting -- but not defense lawyers.
Steel has essentially argued the meeting irreparably corrupted Judge Glanville's oversight of the case, and he's seeking to have another judge remove Glanville and the prosecutors.
"Judge Glanville, lawyer Love and lawyer Hylton have prejudiced and tainted Mr. Williams’ trial so deeply as Judge Glanville has not acted as a Judge but morphed into an essential part of the prosecution team," he wrote. "It is the Judge’s duty to disqualify himself as soon as he is aware that the grounds exist."
The District Attorney's Office declined comment.
Currently, Judge Rachel Krause is assigned to oversee the question of recusal. Steel wanted her — and the rest of the Fulton County Superior Court — to stay out of the decision and recuse herself, though she denied that part of the request later Monday.
"This judicial and prosecutorial misconduct denotes a disgraceful episode in Fulton County Courts," Steel's filing argued. "It is inappropriate for any Judge to preside in any action where one of the parties holds a judicial office in any other Court which sits in the same Circuit."
The motion asks to disqualify deputy district attorney Hylton and assistant district attorney Love from the case because they have "stolen, forever Mr. Williams' opportunity to have this trial heard by a jury in a Constitutional and Statutory firm manner."
It also requests that Young Thug is released from custody and cleared of all charges based upon prosecutorial and judicial misconduct.
The state has until 5 p.m. on Wednesday to respond to the recusal motion.
More on the case
The controversial private ex parte meeting led to Steel being held in contempt and sentenced to a 20-day jail sentence, which has been reversed after the state Supreme Court granted him bond.
Steel had been held in contempt for refusing to reveal his source for how he heard about the ex parte meeting.
Judge Glanville later released the transcript of the meeting with Lil Woody (Copeland).
Copeland was arrested on June 7 and held in contempt after refusing to testify on the stand as part of an immunity agreement. A few days later, in the judge's chambers, prosecutors shared an email sent to them by Copeland's attorney accusing them of making him a target by forcing him to testify. They also said his attorney was threatening to pull out of the case.
Prosecutors later told Copeland that if he still refused to take the stand, he could be in jail until every defendant had their cases decided. He did eventually testify.
Copeland had an attorney present for the meeting, but she was a stand-in for his usual lawyer, who was out of town. Steel insinuated that the court was committing "coercion" as no representation for his client was invited to the meeting.
The extraordinary turn in the case has captivated legal observers.
Glanville previously denied three motions for his recusal or disqualification from the case.