Young Thug’s defense attorney held in contempt, ordered weekends in jail

A Georgia judge has ruled that the lawyer representing rapper Young Thug must spend the next 10 weekends in jail for being in contempt of court.

Defense attorney Brian Steel is representing the rapper in a trial in Atlanta where he faces charges related to violation of Georgia’s anti-racketeering and gang laws. Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville ordered Steel to be jailed after he refused to disclose how he obtained information about a meeting between the judge, prosecutors, and a key witness for the prosecution.

This development adds to the ongoing complexities of a trial that has been ongoing for over a year without resolution and has faced numerous challenges.

Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, was charged two years ago along with over two dozen others for alleged violations of Georgia’s anti-racketeering law, as well as gang, drug, and gun offenses. He is currently on trial alongside five others from the indictment.

Jury selection began in January 2023 and lasted almost 10 months. The trial officially started in November, with the prosecution presenting its case and calling numerous witnesses.

In court on Monday, Steel informed Glanville about a meeting he had knowledge of, which involved the judge, prosecutors, and a witness with a lawyer present. Despite Glanville’s requests, Steel declined to reveal how he learned of the meeting, leading to the contempt ruling.

Glanville ordered Steel to spend 20 days in the Fulton County Jail over the next 10 weekends, starting from this Friday. Steel requested to serve his time in the Cobb County Jail, where Young Thug is detained, to facilitate working on the rapper’s defense.

Steel has filed an appeal of the contempt order to the Georgia Court of Appeals and has requested Glanville to reconsider the punishment or grant him bond during the appeal process.

The trial has seen other witnesses facing legal challenges, with one witness, Kenneth Copeland, being jailed briefly for refusing to testify despite having immunity. The trial has also been marked by allegations of improper disclosures and conflicts of interest.

Despite Young Thug’s success in the music industry, the trial continues to delve into allegations of criminal activity related to his record label and purported gang affiliations.