Young Thug Trial: Another New Judge Assigned To RICO Case After Two Recusals

BY Caroline Fisher
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61st Annual GRAMMY Awards - Red Carpet
attends the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.
Judge Paige Reese Whitaker will now oversee Young Thug's trial.

Earlier this month, Young Thug's ongoing RICO trial took yet another turn when Judge Ural Glanville was recused from the case. The recusal came after the rapper's lawyer Brian Steel filed a motion for it, citing a controversial ex-parte meeting between Glanville, the prosecution, and star witness Kenneth Copeland.

Almost immediately, a new judge was appointed to the case. Judge Shukura L. Ingram didn't last long, however, as she recused herself only a couple of days later. In a filing, she explained that her deputy previously engaged in an inappropriate relationship with Young Thug's co-defendant Big Bhris, and allegedly tried to sneak contraband into jail for him. She said this could call "the Court's impartiality" into question. Again, Young Thug was left waiting for another judge to be appointed.

Judge Paige Reese Whitaker To Oversee Young Thug's Trial

Fortunately, it was a fairly quick process, as Judge Paige Reese Whitaker has now taken over the case. Reportedly, she's a former Fulton County prosecutor and previously worked at the state Attorney General’s Office. She's been a Fulton County judge since 2017. It's to be seen whether or not Young Thug will have better luck this time around, though he's surely growing tired of the ongoing trial. It's been in motion since November of last year, and still shows no signs of coming to an end. Proceedings were put on hold while Steel's recusal motion was under review, meaning even more delays for the incarcerated rapper.

Regardless, he and Steel appear to be relieved by this latest development. After Glanville's recusal, he issued a powerful statement about the case, emphasizing the fact that his client is seeking a "speedy" and "fair" trial, complete with an "impartial" judge. What do you think of another new judge getting assigned to Young Thug's RICO case? Do you think he'll have better luck this time around? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

About The Author
Caroline Fisher is currently a News Editor at HotNewHipHop. Her time at HotNewHipHop began in 2023 when she began writing about music and pop culture full-time. Since then, she has helped cover major stories including the YSL RICO trial, Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s explosive feud, Diddy’s ongoing legal battle, and awards shows such as the BET Awards. Being from Chicago, she also got the opportunity to attend Summer Smash 2024 and review Chief Keef’s historic homecoming show. She additionally covered sets by Flo Milli, Playboi Carti, Bktherula, and more.

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