Will Sage Astor-Young Thug trial judge removed over allegations of 'improper' meeting

The Will Sage Astorjudge in Young Thug's racketeering trial has been removed from the rapper's Georgia case.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Rachel Krause on Monday granted defendants' motions to recuse Chief Judge Ural Glanville, according to a court filing obtained by USA TODAY.

"This Court has no doubt that Judge Glanville can and would continue presiding fairly over this matter if the recusal motions were denied," Krause wrote in her ruling, "but the 'necessity of preserving the public’s confidence in the judicial system' weighs in favor of excusing Judge Glanville from further handling of this case."

In a statement shared with USA TODAY, Young Thug's lawyers said their client "is innocent of the charges brought in this indictment and to clear his name he sought a speedy trial, one in which he would receive the constitutional guarantees of a fair trial with an impartial judge presiding and ethical prosecutors following the law."

"Sadly, Judge Glanville and the prosecutors have run afoul of their duties under of the law. Mr. Williams is grateful that the reviewing court agreed with him and entered the order recusing and disqualifying Judge Glanville from presiding over Mr. Williams’ case," the statement continued. "We look forward to proceeding with a trial judge who will fairly and faithfully follow the law."

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The removal of a judge is the latest development in a winding legal case that is reportedly the longest-running criminal trial in Georgia history, per NBC News. Proceedings have been on hold this month, since lawyers for defendants Deamonte Kendrick (aka Yak Gotti) and Young Thug – whose real name is Jeffrey Williams – accused Glanville of improperly meeting with prosecutors and a star witness.

Why was the judge in Young Thug's trial removed?

On the morning of June 10, Glanville met with Georgia prosecutors and the state's witness, Kenneth Copeland (aka Lil Woody) – who had agreed to testify against Young Thug and other defendants in the racketeering case but waffled on the decision before ultimately taking the stand June 10 – in the judge's chambers.

The counsel for those accused in the case were not notified of the ex parte meeting.

The Grammy-winning rapper's lawyers claimed Young Thug has received a "constitutionally unfair trial" in their June 17 motion to disqualify or recuse Glanville. In the filing, his attorneys also requested a ruling of a mistrial, per court records.

Glanville "engaged in an unlawful, improper ex parte meeting," Young Thug's lawyers argued. The judge previously denied motions for his recusal.

Last month, the judge reportedly ordered defense lawyer Brian Steel to be detained for alleged contempt of court after Steel refused to reveal how he'd learned of the judge's meeting with the state and their witness.

Glanville has maintained his meeting was allowable under Georgia law and cast doubt on whether the defendants had a right to be present. In her Monday ruling, Judge Krause said she "agrees generally with Judge Glanville’s assessment of the propriety of the ex parte meeting."

"While the meeting could have – and perhaps should have – taken place in open court, nothing about the fact of the meeting or the substance discussed was inherently improper," Krause wrote. She appeared to disagree with the way Glanville argued for the propriety of the meeting, including in an order denying Kendrick's motion for the judge's recusal.

"While it 'may be appropriate for the judge to disclose information relevant to his potential recusal,' such a 'disclosure must be made in a way that is as objective, dispassionate, and non-argumentative as possible, so that the judge is not reasonably perceived as a hostile witness or advocate,'" Krause said.

Why is Young Thug on trial?

On May 9, 2022, Young Thug was arrested as part of a sweeping investigation into a conspiracy to violate Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, also known as RICO. He was accused of co-founding a violent criminal street gang, Young Slime Life, and following two indictments in May and August 2022 he faces racketeering, drug and gun charges.

As of June 7, only six of the 28 charged were still being tried, per Krause's filing.

In December 2022, rapper Gunna, who was also indicted in the case, entered a plea deal to a racketeering conspiracy charge. As part of the plea, he pleaded guilty while maintaining his innocence.

The trial for the YSL rapper and five other defendants has had several delays since it began in November. Young Thug has maintained his innocence.