A judge has held Young Thug’s attorney in contempt of court on the 88th day of the sprawling RICO trial against the Atlanta rapper. Here’s everything we know, including how the Georgia state Supreme Court got involved.
Ex Parte up in here
June 10, 2024: Young Thug’s attorney, Brian Steel, was held in contempt for calling out an ex parte meeting between the judge, prosecution, and their star witness. The stunning moment occurred in Fulton County Superior Court after a lunch recess on Monday, June 10, when Thug’s attorney, Brian Steel, confronted Judge Ural Glanville about a private meeting between the judge, the prosecution, and star witness Lil Woody, real name Kenneth Copeland, per Law&Crime editor Cathy Russon. By the end of the day, Judge Glanville had sentenced Steel to remain in custody for a maximum of 20 days, from 7 p.m. on Fridays to 7 p.m. on Sundays, from June 14 to August 18.
“I’m kind of disturbed because all of that was an ex parte conversation,” Glanville told Steel in court. “How did you find out about that conversation?” Steel alleged that Lil Woody had admitted to killing Donovan “Nut” Thomas when speaking with the judge and the prosecution. Glanville warned Steel that he had five minutes to reveal his sources or he would be held in contempt of court.
Before being taken into custody, Steel argued that a meeting with a witness without the defense present violated procedural rules. “You’re not supposed to have communication with a witness who’s been sworn,” he told the court, requesting a mistrial, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Lil Woody himself spent the weekend behind bars after refusing to testify, even though he has an immunity deal that depends on his testimony. According to Steel, the prosecution warned Lil Woody that he could be in custody for the duration of the trial or however long it takes for the defendant’s cases to go through the courts. “If that’s true, what this is is coercion, witness intimidation, ex parte communications that we have a constitutional right to be present for,” Steel told the judge. Refusing to tell Glanville about how he learned of the meeting, Young Thug’s attorney was escorted out of the courtroom. “You are removing me against his will, my will, and you’re taking away his right to counsel,” he said as he was led away.
Still in contempt, Steel was eventually allowed back into the chambers at the behest of the DA and given an end-of-day deadline to tell Glanville who had leaked the information or else be taken into custody once more. According to reports, a “sea of attorneys” gathered outside the courtroom in support of Steel, including Ashleigh Merchant, president of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Steel’s law partner and wife, Colette Resnik Steel, filed a notice of appeal and a motion for bond. Lil Woody, for his part, was released from custody.
Steel stays home pending appeal
June 12, 2024: The Georgia Supreme Court granted the Steel family’s Supersedeas Bond, meaning Steel will not spend any time in jail pending the appeal of his contempt charge. Brian Steel had asked, should the court not grant his Supersedas Bond, to use his jail time to spend time with Young Thug and further prepare the rapper’s defense. That’s not happening now. Furthermore, the Georgia Supreme Court granted a writ of certiorari, which means they’re the court that will be hearing the appeal. The highest court in the state will now be looking at Steel’s charge of contempt. “Although the appeal in this case arises from a collateral order of contempt, it is undisputed that the nature of the underlying action is a criminal prosecution,” the writ states.
