Early in June, spotlights focused once again on Georgia and the RICO case against Young Thug and other YSL members and its attorneys. The case, which had already been in and out of headlines in Georgia and across the country for attorney misbehavior and courtroom dramatics, once again drew eyes for courtroom dramatics. This time, however, the defense attorney’s behavior was more than commendable.
On monday June 10th, Young Thug’s defense lawyer Brian Steel ended up under arrest by the court for criminal contempt of the court, calmly removing his jacket before stepping into courtroom officer custody.
Why? Because he had dared to demand an explanation from the judge about a questionable meeting with a prosecution witness that had taken place in secret. And when the judge insisted he reveal his source for this meeting, Steel refused, earning himself the contempt charge and the admiration of onlookers across the country.
While this latest twist in the lengthy gang RICO case trial against the rappers of YSL and their entourage has served as a stark reminder of what law looks like at its best, the case has also been peppered with less than savory attorney behavior.
Young Thug RICO Trial Update: The Good, The Bad, And The Legally Dubious
The Young Thug Rico case is now in its second year after his arrest, along with nearly 30 other rappers, followers, and others affiliated with his music label (and alleged gang) YSL. The RICO criminal conspiracy case has been on trial for nearly a year, as Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis tries to prove the rapper, real name Jeffrey Lamar Williams, is part of a gang and guilty of a whole gamut of crimes.
The trial has been anything but easy, however. After extensive delays, due in part to difficulty with witnesses on both sides and endless challenges, the case has also been split and split again as most defendants sought some form of plea or bail bond release. Now, Young Thug is one of the few still in jail because Judge Ural Glanville has denied bond twice.
But last week’s drama was not the first time the spotlight has been on attorney behavior among prosecutors or defense lawyers. Earlier this year, in February, one of the RICO trial’s many defense lawyers, Nicole Fegan, who was representing defendant Tenquarius Mender, was arrested for criminal street gang behavior herself. She had allegedly contacted a suspect before his arrest and told him to get rid of his phone.
This time, however, attention is on the prosecution, who may or may not be guilty of witness tampering and intimidation, as Brian Steel and other defense lawyers for Young Thug pointed out last week.
So what really went down in court last week, and what can defendants do when lawyers go off the rails?
Courtroom Drama In Young Thug RICO Trial Between Judge Glanville And Attorney Brian Steel
On Monday, Brian Steel interrupted the court’s proceedings to bring up something which had come to his attention. According to a yet unnamed source, Judge Glanville had been present for a meeting with an important prosecution witness, Kenneth Copeland, who had been reluctant to testify.
This meeting had been held Ex Parte (meaning it was held without the presence of attorneys on both sides) and supposedly had included intimidating and cohesive statements. For example, one defense attorney alleges that the judge and prosecutors told the witness he could end up in jail until the end of all 26 defendants’ trials.
The judge did not deny the meeting but refused to answer questions about what was said behind these closed doors. Instead, he repeatedly asked Brian Steel for his source about the meeting. He argued the prosecution should not have had access to any of that information, but Steel did not budge, refusing to name his source, citing client privilege.
The clash culminated in the judge charging Steel with criminal contempt. In a moment of brilliance when arrested, Steel merely asked that he could serve his sentence, six weeks in jail to be served on weekend, in prison with his own client to continue working on the case.
Whether or not that will happen remains to be seen, but it certainly serves to highlight the importance a defense lawyer can make in a case…for good or ill.
Why Did Defense Lawyer Brian Steel Stick His Neck Out For Young Thug?
In Young Thug’s RICO case, the judge seems happy to pounce on the defense attorneys for perceived challenges or affronts. While Mr. Steel’s outstanding performance will no doubt end up helping his client in the long run, sometimes lawyers really do earn the court’s reprimand, or worse, make errors that cost their clients millions of dollars or precious years of freedom.
You see, every lawyer owes their client a duty of care. This is a legal obligation to represent them and their interests to the best of the lawyer’s ability. Like the duty a doctor owes to their patient, this duty also gives them the right to withhold information under attorney-client privilege. This is exactly what Mr. Steel called on when refusing to name his source for the secret Ex Parte meeting.
Unfortunately, not all lawyers will meet that standard of care. If a less accomplished attorney lets you down with a willful error, glaring mistake (such as missing a crucial deadline) or other negligent behavior, you will bear the cost, and no judge will send you to jail. You have to hold them accountable yourself – but you do not have to do it alone.
Who To Call If A Lawyer Lets You Down?
When a lawyer’s negligence leads to your loss, you can actually sue them for breaching that duty of care. This is called Legal Malpractice law, and it works a lot like suing a doctor for negligent behavior.
There are even attorneys out there, like Jesse Wimberly in neighboring Louisiana, who focus on pursuing such cases and see that justice is done.
While you might not be able to demand the kind of diligence or dramatics of Young Thug’s defense lawyer, Brian Steel, you can try to find a lawyer who will do right by your case. And if they let you or your loved ones down, you can see to it that they face the consequences for their negligence by calling (985) 200-8466.
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