A contempt ruling against Young Thug’s lawyer, issued by a judge, was overturned by Georgia’s highest court on Tuesday.
The lawyer, Brian Steel, was found in contempt after refusing to disclose how he learned about a meeting between the judge, prosecutors, and a prosecution witness. Steel represents the rapper, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, currently on trial in Atlanta for multiple charges, including violations of Georgia’s anti-racketeering and gang laws. In June, Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville found Steel in contempt and sentenced him to 10 weekends in jail, a decision that was stayed pending appeal.
Steel argued that the information was protected by attorney-client privilege, that he had not interfered with court proceedings, and that due process required Judge Glanville to recuse himself from the contempt case, as Steel had accused the judge of misconduct.
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The Georgia Supreme Court agreed with Steel, ruling that Glanville should have recused himself due to his involvement in the controversy that led to the contempt charge. “Because the court delayed punishment, the alleged disobedience was directed toward the court, and the court was involved in the controversy that formed the basis of the contempt, due process required the judge to recuse from the contempt proceeding. We therefore reverse the contempt imposed by the trial court,” Presiding Justice Nels Peterson wrote in the unanimous opinion.
Young Thug was charged two years ago in a wide-reaching indictment that accused him and more than two dozen others of conspiring to violate Georgia’s anti-racketeering law. He also faces charges related to gang activity, drugs, and firearms. He is currently standing trial alongside five co-defendants.
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Jury selection for the case began in January 2023 and took nearly 10 months. Opening statements were delivered in November, and the prosecution has since called dozens of witnesses.
On June 10, in open court, Steel informed Judge Glanville that he had learned of a meeting in the judge’s chambers earlier that morning and requested a mistrial. Glanville, in his contempt ruling, expressed “serious concern” about how Steel obtained this information, suggesting it was improperly disclosed. Steel maintained that the information was not confidential under any court order.
Judge Glanville was removed from the case in July following the controversy over the meeting. Another judge ruled that, while Glanville’s actions were not necessarily improper, preserving public confidence in the judicial system justified his recusal.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker has since taken over the case, which is expected to continue into next year.
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