Young Thug’s attorney was found in contempt and given a ten-week jail sentence

Throughout Young Thug’s ongoing racketeering trial, his attorney Brian Steel was found in contempt of court. Judge Ural Glanville, the case’s presiding judge, rendered the decision after Steel declined to explain how he found out about a secret discussion that involved the judge, prosecutors, and a crucial state witness.

Steel was given a 20-day sentence that required him to serve 10 weekends at Fulton County Jail after being led out of court. He has been told to show up at the Rice Street location by Friday at 7 p.m. In order to focus on the case with his client, Steel asked to do his time at Cobb County Jail. Judge Glanville promised to talk with the sheriff about the motion and said he would take it into consideration.

Before ordering a deputy to arrest Steel, Glanville said, “You got some information you shouldn’t have gotten.”

The issue started when trial witness Kenneth Copeland declined to testify on Friday even though he had an immunity agreement. Despite spending the weekend in jail, Copeland chose to testify on Monday, showing up in court wearing a blue jumpsuit that the jail had given him. He was allowed to go free as long as he promised to testify again on Tuesday.

Steel asked for a mistrial during the trial, claiming he ought to have been present when Copeland, the judge, and the prosecution met in private. Despite Steel’s protests and his temporary exit from the courtroom, Glanville proceeded with the trial.

Judge Glanville demanded that the trial go forward despite Steel’s co-counsel, Keith Adams, expressing his unwillingness to proceed without Steel present. Glanville said, “You don’t get to extort the court.”

Representing a different defendant in the trial, attorney Max Schardt asked for the transcript of the private meeting to be made public, contending that all participants in the trial ought to have been present during the conversation. Judge Glanville denied the request, stating that the ex parte talk was conducted in an appropriate manner.

Glanville issued a warning that the contempt charge remained in effect until Steel revealed his source after allowing Steel to return to the courtroom. Representing Steel, Ashleigh Merchant of Marietta argued in favor of his release and demanded that Glanville step down from the contempt case because of his role in the ex parte communication.

A number of Atlanta lawyers defended Steel while denouncing his contempt allegation. Colette Resnik Steel, Steel’s wife and attorney, declared that she will file an appeal against the criminal contempt ruling and request that Steel be released on bond.