Young Thug’s lawyer found in contempt and sentenced to imprisonment in Georgia case

Approaching the lectern after an afternoon recess, Steel told the judge that an anonymous source had provided him with details of the meeting between Glanville, prosecutors and Copeland, a sworn witness who was jailed Friday for contempt after refusing to testify in the case.

Steel alleged that Copeland reiterated his refusal to testify at Monday’s meeting and that Glanville and prosecutors told Copeland he could be jailed until the end of the trial if he refused to cooperate. He said the conversation prompted Copeland to change his mind and take the witness stand Monday.

“If this is true, this is coercion, witness intimidation, ex parte communications that we have a constitutional right to be present for,” Steel told Glanville.

“How did you get this information?” Who told you?” asked Glanville.

When Steel refused to disclose his source – claiming it violated attorney-client protections and “work product” privilege – Glanville ordered him held for criminal contempt and placed in custody.

The judge then allowed Steel to return to the courtroom as proceedings continued, but said he would jail him if he did not disclose his source. “You will be taken into custody at five o’clock today or as soon as we are finished if you don’t tell me,” Glanville warned.

On Monday evening, after hearing arguments from Steel’s attorneys, Glanville sentenced Steel to 20 days in the Fulton County Jail – a sentence he ordered to be served on weekends starting this Friday. Steel asked the judge to allow him to serve that sentence at the Cobb County Jail, where Young Thug is being held, and not at the Fulton County Jail, which Glanville said he would consider.

Glanville did not comment on the merits of the allegations – although he told Steel and his co-counsel, Keith Adams, that someone had given them incorrect information and maintained that whoever leaked the information had violated attorney-client privilege.

“I tell you at this point, nothing was given, said anything, this morning,” Glanville said. The judge denied several requests for a mistrial made by defense attorneys and also refused to produce a snapshot transcript of the meeting, even though a court reporter was present.

Adriane Love, an assistant Fulton County prosecutor and lead prosecutor on the case, also denied any wrongdoing, stating for the record that the meeting between the judge, prosecutors and Copeland was held to address the contempt complaint against Copeland .

The dramatic developments came as the racketeering trial against Young Thug, real name Jeffery Lamar Williams, has moved at a glacial pace, marred by jury and witness problems and other daily turmoil that has engulfed the high-profile prosecutions led by the Fulton County District. Attorney Fani T. Willis (D).

The charge against Young Thug is one of two high-profile criminal racketeering cases pursued by Willis’ office. Last summer, the veteran prosecutor filed charges against former President Donald Trump and more than a dozen of his associates, alleging they criminally conspired to try to overturn Trump’s 2020 election defeat in Georgia .

That case is now at a standstill, as Trump and others appeal a judge’s decision to allow Willis to continue the case amid complaints that she had an inappropriate romantic relationship with the former top prosecutor of the affair.

Young Thug and 27 other associates were indicted in May 2022 as part of a broad grand jury indictment alleging that the rapper and his associates were members of a violent criminal street gang in Atlanta.

Prosecutors alleged Young Thug was the leader of the gang, known as YSL or Young Slime Life, and charged him with criminal racketeering and gang charges, while others were charged with other violent crimes, including murder and attempted armed robbery.

Young Thug’s lawyers countered by claiming that YSL was just a label and attacked prosecutors for presenting Young Thug’s lyrics as evidence at trial, arguing that his rhymes were just an artistic expression and not a literal account of criminal acts.

Several of those charged in this case ultimately pleaded guilty or had their cases dismissed. Currently, Young Thug and five alleged associates are on trial, which has been marked by constant delays.

Jury selection began in January 2023, followed by opening statements on November 27, more than 10 months later. Monday marked the 88th day of testimony — with prosecutors less than halfway through their proposed witness list. It is already the longest criminal trial in Georgia history, with some defense attorneys warning the proceedings could last until 2025.

As the drama unfolded on Monday, Glanville, who has faced intense criticism for his handling of the trial, refused to suspend the proceedings, accusing defense lawyers of trying to “extort the court.” refusing to move forward until the issue of what happened between the two parties is resolved. the judge, prosecutors and Copeland were resolute. Glanville said he would not address the matter until Steel identified his source – something the lawyer repeatedly refused to do.

When Glanville took him into custody, Steel calmly stood up and removed his jacket and tie. He then approached the podium and told the judge he was violating his client’s rights. “You are removing me against his will, my will, and you are taking away his right to counsel,” Steel told the judge before being escorted from the courtroom.

At one point, Love, the lead prosecutor, urged Glanville to allow Steel back into the courtroom — a sign of the high stakes of a case that has drawn intense scrutiny from everyone involved, including Judge and Willis, who was criticized for it. decision to pursue sprawling racketeering cases involving multiple defendants.

These developments shocked the Atlanta legal community. A group of criminal defense attorneys gathered outside the courtroom Monday night in solidarity with Steel, including Ashleigh Merchant, an Atlanta-area lawyer who chairs the Atlanta Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. the state and appeared in court to represent Steel in the contempt case.

Steel’s wife, Colette Resnik Steel, who is also an attorney, filed a notice of intent to appeal the contempt order against her husband – although Glanville argued that Steel was not entitled to a appeal or even a bail hearing.

“He benefited from the due process that he’s going to get,” Glanville said. He ordered Steel imprisoned, but said he would lift the contempt order if Steel disclosed his source.

Chris Timmons, a former Atlanta-area prosecutor who has known Steel for years, said he was stunned by what happened Monday. “Brian is one of the most ethical lawyers I know. He is deferential. He’s polite, and for him to be looked down upon is crazy,” Timmons said. “This thing is going off the rails.”