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Young Thug Trial: New Judge Quickly Recuses Herself From The Case

July 17, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Judge Shukura Ingram, who was assigned to Young Thug and the rest of YSL’s ongoing RICO case in the wake of Ural Glanville’s recusal, has already recused herself from the trial. Just one day after taking on the case, she explained in a filing on Wednesday morning that her deputy previously engaged in an improper relationship with Thug’s co-defendant Big Bhris (Christian Eppingee). The deputy allegedly tried to sneak contraband into jail for him.

She wrote: “Because this Court’s former assigned deputy could be called as a witness in any future proceedings in this case, the Court may be called upon to assess this deputy’s credibility, or rule on matters related to her criminal prosecution. This may undermine the public’s confidence in the impartiality of the proceedings. While the Court does not regard the aforementioned situation as creating any actual bias for or against any party to this case, the Court does view this as a matter that could cause a reasonable person to question the Court’s impartiality and reasonably give rise to the appearance.”

Young Thug’s Attorney, Brian Steele, Arrives At Fulton County Courthouse

Brian Steel, attorney for rapper Young Thug, right, arrives at the Fulton County Courthouse on November 27, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. Opening statements will begin in the case against 31-year-old US rapper Young. Thug and 28 others, who are facing a racketeering indictment accusing the defendants of a number of offenses that support an overarching conspiracy charge, including murder, assault, carjacking, drug dealing, and theft. (Photo by Christian MONTERROSA / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTIAN MONTERROSA/AFP via Getty Images)

As for Ural Glanville, his recusal came after a controversial ex-parte meeting between himself, the prosecution, and star witness Kenneth Copeland. Rachel Krause, the Fulton County Superior Court judge who oversaw the decision, admitted there was nothing inappropriate about the meeting, but that his handling of the situation shook confidence in the court. “It is worth noting that this Court agrees generally with Judge Glanville’s assessment of the propriety of the ex parte meeting…his Court has no doubt that Judge Glanville can and would continue presiding fairly over this matter if the recusal motions were denied, but the ‘necessity of preserving the public’s confidence in the judicial system’ weighs in favor of excusing Judge Glanville from further handling of this case,” she wrote.

Judge Shukura Ingram Steps Down From Case

NEW:

Judge Ingram has RECUSED HERSELF

Her deputy was the deputy arrested for an improper relationship with Thug’s co-defendant Big Bhris (Christian Eppingee) and she didn’t want the potential appearance of impartiality.

New judge will be assigned soon . https://t.co/veEXXGruns pic.twitter.com/tfpeF1Ukjm

— THUGGERDAILY ひ (@ThuggerDaily) July 17, 2024

It’s unclear how soon the court will select a new judge the preside over the case. Be on the lookout for further updates on Young Thug and the YSL trial on HotNewHipHop.

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Young Thug’s Trial Already Assigned A New Judge Moments After Glanville’s Removal

July 15, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Just hours ago, Judge Ural Glanville was resigned of duties in what has been a rollercoaster of a YSL RICO trial. However, a new judge is already being appointed to the ongoing case surrounding Young Thug. According to an Instagram post from DJ Akademiks, overseeing everything will be Judge Shukura L. Ingram. Glanville was recused by Thugger’s lawyer, Brian Steele, and it seems that Rachel Krause, the Fulton County Superior Court judge, feels that a change was needed, too. Krause felt that it was necessary to preserve “the public’s confidence in the judicial system”. Overall, we do not know how much longer it will take before the trial kicks back into gear.

But this has the potential to be a step in the right direction for what has been labeled as a “dumpster fire” of a trial. The decision to remove Ural Glanville from this case was not totally because of the ex-parte meeting with Lil Woody. Rather, it was in relation to “his prior judgments to deny previously filed motions to recuse, in which he offered his own opinions as justifications, leaving his judgments open to critique”. That information comes from Uproxx.

Fans Aren’t Too Keen On The New Judge For Young Thug’s Trial

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A post shared by DJ Akademiks (@akademiks)

Since the new judge has been announced, fans are not totally stoked about the selection of Shukura Ingram. Overall, with how things have gone so far, it is not too surprising that some are not holding their breath just yet. “Anybody dat ever been to court knows the last thing you want is a black female judge just ask Meek!!”, one user claims. “She looks like she gon “I aint one of your lil friends” this trial”, another adds. At the end of the day, we will just have to wait and see what happens.

What are your thoughts on a new judge already taking over Ural Glanville’s spot in the Young Thug trial? Do you think this swap will lead to a speedier process, why or why not? Do you know anything about Judge Shukura L. Ingram? We would like to hear what you have to say, so leave your thoughts in the comments. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Young Thug and his trial. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.

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Young Thug & YSL RICO Trial: Lawyer At Judge’s Ex-Parte Meeting Finally Divulges On It

July 4, 2024 by newhiphopnews

If you’ve been following the Young Thug and YSL RICO trial, you know that things are currently on hold due to Judge Ural Glanville’s ex-parte meeting with a witness (YSL Woody), Woody’s lawyer Kayla Bumpus, a court reporter, prosecutor Simone Hilton, and another prosecutor. For those unaware, an ex-parte meeting refers to a motion, hearing, or order requested by, and granted to, a single party in a court case. Specifically, Thugger’s lawyer Brian Steel asked for the recusal of Judge Glanville on the notion that this meeting violated various rules in the trial, including witness collusion for the benefit of the state.

“The problem with the meeting is not what was discussed,” Bumpus told The Shade Room‘s Justin Carter of this meeting in the Young Thug trial. “It’s that Mr. Copeland [YSL Woody] was already a sworn witness. So defense council should have at least known about the meeting. I did not tell Attorney Steel [about the meeting]. I do not know who told Attorney Steel. But once they told him, he came and questioned me and I then did give him a rundown of what happened in the meeting.”

Young Thug Trial Might Take A Turn As Case Pauses Due To Ex-Parte Meeting & Attorney’s Testimony

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Furthermore, Bumpus was allegedly filling in for a colleague in the Young Thug trial, and specifically for his ex-parte meeting. At press time, the court must wait for another judge to rule on the recusal motion and determine what will become of this YSL case. “We don’t want you in custody,” one of the prosecutors reportedly told YSL Woody. “I can’t say that any other different way, but we don’t want you in custody. The only thing that’s holding you is refusing to testify.”

YSL Woody had attempted to invoke his Fifth Amendment rights on the stand when he responded to a question about how old he was. Also, he tried to refuse immunity and be a state witness, but he ended up cooperating. In addition, Bumpus claimed that, while she didn’t tell Young Thug’s lawyer about the meeting, she did reveal more info about it once he asked. We’ll see whether these extra details and deliberations shift the tide of the case, or if things will go back to our regularly scheduled (and chaotic) court program.

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Young Thug Trial: Judge Refuses To Step Down After Ex-Parte Meeting Debacle

June 18, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Judge Ural Glanville is refusing to step down and declare a mistrial in the case against Young Thug and other members of YSL after attorney Brian Steel requested he do so in a motion, this week. The drama stems from a court date, last week, where Steel revealed that he learned of a secret ex-parte meeting between Glanville, prosecutors, and a key witness named Kenneth Copeland. Steel became livid in the courtroom, labeling the discussion illegal and grounds for a mistrial. In response, Glanville held him in contempt of court for not revealing who leaked details of the meeting.

Addressing the request, Glanville said at a hearing on Tuesday that the complaints are “bare assertions and legal conclusions which aren’t sufficient for the court to grant your motion.” In the filing, Steel accused Glanville of working with the prosecution to convict Young Thug. He wrote: “The court has become a member of the prosecution team in an effort to thwart Mr. Williams’ [Young Thug] Constitutional right to a fair trial. This court must be recused, the court and the prosecution have violated Mr. Williams’ rights and the Indictment must be dismissed after a mistrial is declared.”

Young Thug’s Attorney, Brian Steel, Arrives At Court

Brian Steel, attorney for rapper Young Thug, arrives at the Fulton County Courthouse on November 27, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. Opening statements are to begin in the case against 31-year-old US rapper Young. Thug and 28 others, who are facing a racketeering indictment accusing the defendants of a number of offenses that support an overarching conspiracy charge, including murder, assault, carjacking, drug dealing, as well as theft. (Photo by Christian Monterrosa / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTIAN MONTERROSA/AFP via Getty Images)

Steel further wrote: “Mr. Williams’ trial is constitutionally fractured, unfair and lacks all constitutional, statutory and ethical safeguards and protections of due process of law. No intellectually honest person could believe that coercing witness Copeland to testify in a ‘star chamber’ setting meets Constitutional muster.” He argues that Copeland reneged on a plan to testify in exchange for immunity, but Glanville and the prosecution pressured him into changing his mind again. “This is witness intimidation, coercion and the court has become a member of the prosecution team in assisting the prosecution to induce a material witness to testify,” he explained.

“I’m going to ask him how much pressure, if any, the court put on him, and you’re going to be the one instructing the jury,” Steel later said to Glanville at Tuesday’s hearing. “And I just can’t imagine how that’s fair to Mr. Williams.” Be on the lookout for further updates on Young Thug and the YSL trial on HotNewHipHop.

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Young Thug’s YSL Trial: Judge & Prosecutor Get Into Heated Argument In Court

April 17, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville called out District Attorney Adriane Love in court during Young Thug’s ongoing YSL RICO trial on Wednesday. He was unhappy with the late-minute submission of a 105-page PowerPoint presentation, which led to a shouting match between himself and the state’s attorney.

“That’s too late,” he remarked, before wagging his finger. “The evidence is excluded. I’m gonna exclude because I told you that this was gonna happen. We’re excluding that and I’m gonna exclude the PowerPoint that you all submitted. You’re not gonna wholesale introduce it.” From there, the prosecutor approaches the podium and argues that they attempted to reach out to the defense on multiple occasions.

Young Thug’s Attorney Arrives In Court

The judge fires back: “But you all should not be identifying this stuff the moment of trial while the jury’s sitting in a box. I am not gonna tolerate this any further.” Over the next two minutes, tensions only escalate. Eventually, the jury returns and the judge demands the prosector sit back down. Check out the heated interaction in the video below.

The YSL Rico Trial Gets Heated

Things got heated today during Young Thug’s YSL RICO trial as the judge and one of the state prosecutors yelled at each other during court. pic.twitter.com/Dneu9C8bzT

— XXL Magazine (@XXL) April 17, 2024

The latest drama comes after Chance The Rapper made headlines the day before for labeling the case a “circus of a trial.” “For my birthday I just wish my brother was home with his family,” he wrote on Instagram. “This circus of a trial has had him in custody for over a year and with all the legal errors, jury misconduct, and conflicts of interest by the state he deserves to at the very least fight this from home.” Be on the lookout for further updates on Young Thug on HotNewHipHop.

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Young Dolph Murder Suspect Begs Judge To Allow Him To Work

February 15, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The alleged mastermind behind Young Dolph’s murder, Hernandez Govan, wants this accusation to weigh less heavily on him. Moreover, according to AllHipHop, Hernandez Govan filed a request to Judge Jennifer Mitchell, who presides over his case, to ease his house arrest terms to he can find employment. Govan faces first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder charges. His current 24-hour house arrest lockdown began with his leave on bond in May of 2023 for $90,000. Govan reportedly wants to find work to support his wife and daughter, something that the court already denied him.

Furthermore, Judge Lee Coffee denied Govan’s previous request for this house arrest relaxation. This was due to claims that he violated his bond terms by failing to get permission to travel outside of Shelby County, and doing so anyway. Not only that, but the judge warned Govan was probably at risk of falling victim to a targeted attack thanks to his alleged involvement in Young Dolph’s murder. “Memphis Shelby County, Tennessee is the first most violent metropolitan area in the country,” Coffee remarked. “This case has generated a substantial amount of publicity, and if you’re running around free… somebody might be trying to kill you.”

Young Dolph Performing In Georgia In 2020

Young Dolph Murder Suspect Judge House Arrest Work Hip Hop News — COLLEGE PARK, GEORGIA – AUGUST 23: Rapper Young Dolph performs on stage during the Parking Lot Concert series at Gateway Center Arena on August 23, 2020 in College Park, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Reportedly, Hernandez Govan isn’t too concerned with this risk, and simply wants to work to provide for his family. However, it seems like this trial, which is set to begin on June 3 of this year, won’t involve too much hometown bias, or at least much less than what suspects feared. Justin Johnson in particular, another suspect in this case, allegedly begged that the jury in this case not be from Memphis to avoid a strong connection to the victim. This is because the rapper’s passing was so impactful, shocking, and deeply saddening for the community that jurors from the local area are much less likely to be impartial.

Johnson actually got his wish, and now we’re just waiting for the rest of the trial to manifest itself. We can’t really guess as to whether the court will be receptive to Govan’s request, but we can’t image previous precedent paints a pretty picture. As such, it’s likely that the outcome of this trial will define them for much of their lives. For more news and the latest updates on the Young Dolph case, stick around on HNHH.

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Young Dolph’s Murder Trial Will Seek Jurors Outside Of Memphis

February 13, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Young Dolph’s murder trial will now pull jurors from outside of his hometown of Memphis, Judge Jennifer J. Mitchell ruled last Friday. The decision comes in response to the intense media coverage of the rapper’s killing swaying public opinion on the case. Defendant Justin Johnson’s lawyer, Luke Evans, noted in his original filing that “the victim in the case is beloved here.”

In her ruling, Mitchell said: “This court is wary that jurors from Shelby County will not be able to lay aside their opinions or impressions and render a verdict based upon the evidence presented.” Prosecutor Paul Hagerman previously suggested having a potential jury pool of about 150 to 200 people fill out questionnaires to “gauge the effect of news coverage and social media commentary.” Mitchell, however, was concerned that strategy could delay the trial even further. It’s already moved back from its original start date of March 11 to June 3.

Young Dolph Performs At Rolling Loud

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 30: Young Dolph performs during Rolling Loud New York 2021 at Citi Field on October 30, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Mendez/Getty Images)

Mia Jaye, Dolph’s fiancée and the mother of his children, has complained about the lack of progress made in the case since the rapper’s death in 2021. “I’m fed up. It’s been two years’ worth of conspiracies. Two years’ worth of unknowing. Two years’ worth of people not properly communicating to you,” she told Rolling Stone, last year. “I didn’t know if garnering more attention would hurt or help, and I wanted to help. I feel like I tried that, and I don’t feel like it was helping, I feel like we weren’t being taken seriously.”

It’s unclear where which county the additional jurors will now be pooled from. “We can get this jury from wherever,” Hagerman said. “We’re going to try this case, and we’re going to see this thing until the end.” Be on the lookout for further updates on Young Dolph’s murder trial on HotNewHipHop.

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Jam Master Jay Trial Judge Denies Defense’s Motion For Mistrial

February 9, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The trial for the murder of Jam Master Jay over 20 years ago is ramping up at a steady pace, with witness testimonies, questioning, and more evidence. However, according to the Associated Press, it seems like it overcame its first major speed bump recently, as the defense motioned for a mistrial and alleged that the prosecution exhibited misconduct. Moreover, these accusations relate to prosecutors’ questioning of a witness, which defense attorneys believe planted “a seed of prejudice” in the proceeding. As the court discussed this on Thursday (February 8), the judge realized that, regardless, they could still stay on track.

Furthermore, Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall denied the defense’s motion for mistrial in New York on Thursday. While she chastised the prosecution for their lines of questioning, she let the trial go on as planned and believe it won’t affect the outcome of the case. What’s more is that Hall even told the jury to ignore prosecutors’ questions and focus solely on the main point at hand: the murder of Jam Master Jay. Previously, she ruled that lyrics will not be admissible as evidence in this trial, Many saw as a solid victory no matter the verdict, given the controversy surrounding this practice.

Jam Master Jay In 2001

Jam Master Jay Murder Trial Mistrial Denied Hip Hop News — Jam Master Jay of Run DMC performs on stage at the Respect Festival, Finsbury Park, London, United Kingdom, 2001. (Photo by Martyn Goodacre/Getty Images)

For those unaware, Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington are accused of carrying out the crime back in 2002. Washington’s ex-girlfriend Daynia McDonald testified on Thursday, adding to other emotional testimonies in the Jam Master Jay trial. She stated that Washington “basically said yes” when asked whether he was involved in the crime, and this is when the prosecution’s questioning got them in hot water. “Did he say he killed Jam Master Jay? Did he say that people get what they deserve?” they reportedly asked, which prompted the defense to claim misconduct. Nevertheless, McDonald endorsed both sentiments, and while the jury was out of the courtroom, Judge Hall reprimanded the prosecutors.

When the jury returned, she allowed for them to ask McDonald whether Washington “said anything else about [the] murder,” and she responded with “He just said that he killed him.” For what it’s worth, prosecutors claimed that witnesses would like out of fear of retaliation. So far at press time, nothing emerged to suggest that there were inconsistencies or faults in these testimonies. For more news and the latest updates on the Jam Master Jay trial, stay up to date on HNHH.

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Pras Retrial Under Review Due To Defense Lawyer’s Incompetence: Report

January 25, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Despite his guilty verdict in a federal trial for political conspiracy and money laundering, it looks like Pras will still get the opportunity to fight for a second chance. Moreover, new reports from Vulture and HipHopDX indicate that earlier this month, the court called for a hearing to discuss the rapper’s defense team for three days. This is in order to determine whether he should get a retrial given the lack of competence demonstrated by his defense attorney David Kenner. For example, Vulture reports that he outsourced work to a remote medical malpractice lawyer, filed his first motion a year after being able to do so, concealed a limiting injury, and did not bring on experienced legal practitioners to assist in the process.

“Unsuccessful is not the same as ineffective,” prosecutor Nicole Lockhart remarked. Given this perceived failure to effectively represent Pras, who faces 20 years in jail on 10 counts, Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly thinks this could warrant a more fair and prepared shot. As such, a sentence, retrial, or plea-bargain talks could surface as the court’s preferred method of handling this, although this is all still presumably under review at press time. According to this case’s conviction last April, the Fugees star allegedly lobbied illegally in the best interests of his colleagues, in-state and overseas, when it comes to campaign donations and other political and economic factors, in addition to other lawsuits.

Pras Arrives At Court In April 2023

Pras Retrial Defense Lawyer Hip Hop News — WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 03: Pras Michel, a member of the 1990’s hip-hop group the Fugees, arrives at U.S. District Court on April 3, 2023 in Washington, DC. Michel is on trial for his alleged participation in a campaign finance conspiracy. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Not only that, but Pras’ former lawyer also allegedly used artificial intelligence to craft their closing statement, tanking their chances. “Kenner’s closing argument made frivolous arguments, misapprehended the required elements, conflated the schemes and ignored critical weaknesses in the government’s case,” his new legal team stated. The A.I. program failed Kenner, and Kenner failed [Pras] Michel. The closing argument was deficient, unhelpful and a missed opportunity that prejudiced the defense.”

Meanwhile, some reports suggest Kenner actually had a financial stake in the company that created this A.I. program, but the company EyeLevel.AI denied this despite his boasting. Regardless of all this, the New Jersey-born artist maintained his innocence. “Pras was never an FBI informant,” his publicist shared. “It’s not accurate and, quite frankly, it’s dangerous. If he was an informant, he would not be on trial. The government does not prosecute and threaten its informants with more than two decades of jail time.” For more news and the latest updates on Pras, stick around on HNHH.

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Drake Rips Young Thug Judge To Shreds After Vulnerable Mariah The Scientist Jail Call Video Surfaces Online

January 25, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Drake has become good friends with Young Thug over the years. Overall, the two have worked together a ton and they have made some fantastic tracks. However, Drizzy has evolved into a full-on supporter as Thugger looks to win his YSL Rico case. Things have been moving at a snail’s pace in the case, and things only got worse last night. As we reported, a jail call was leaked to the public. In this video, Mariah The Scientist can be heard calling Young Thug “daddy,” among other things.

It was pretty uncomfortable to watch the video, and many fans claimed the same thing. After all, this was meant to be a private conversation between two lovers. Instead, it ended up becoming something for public consumption. This is obviously a major breach of privacy, and people like Drake feel like the whole thing is disgusting. In a post on DJ Akademiks’ Instagram page, the Canadian megastar revealed just how upset he is about the whole thing.

Drake Speaks Out

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A post shared by DJ Akademiks (@akademiks)

“This gotta be some form of jail misconduct,” Drake wrote. “You gonna drag this talented man then not be able to control your employees using his personal business for their own gain? Somebody benefitted from this video even existing and that’s shameful whole case is a wash just 3 the guy and let him come home and continue bringing light to Atlanta.” Subsequently, he took to his Instagram story with more words for Judge Ural Glanville. “Shit is disgraceful… is this a criminal case or Atlanta social media promo Ural Glanville?” he said. Needless to say, Drizzy is outraged, as are many other fans.

Let us know what you think of Drake’s comments, down below. Is this whole situation an outrage, or just another expected misstep in a poorly handled case? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming releases.

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