- Steel was held in contempt for refusing to reveal the source of his information about a private conversation between the judge, prosecutors, and a key witness.
- Steel was sentenced to 20 days in jail, with 10 weekends to be served, for his refusal to disclose the source of his information.
- The incident occurred during the YSL Rico trial, where Young Thug is accused of violating Atlanta’s anti-racketeering and gang laws.
Newsypeople- Kodak Black’s lawyer, Bradford Cohen, has been actively involved in defending and commenting on various legal matters related to the hip-hop community.
Recently, Cohen defended Brian Steel, the attorney for Young Thug, after Steel was held in contempt of court and sentenced to 20 days in jail for refusing to disclose his source regarding a private conversation between the judge, prosecutors, and a key witness in the ongoing YSL Rico trial.
Cohen criticized the judge’s decision on social media, arguing that the incident warranted an instant mistrial.
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Kodak Black’s Lawyer Seeks Mistrial in Young Thug RICO Case After Attorney’s Arrest
Kodak Black’s lawyer, Bradford Cohen, has called for an “instant mistrial” in the ongoing RICO trial of rapper Young Thug after Young Thug’s attorney, Brian Steel, was held in contempt of court and sentenced to 20 days in jail.
The incident occurred on Monday when Steel accused Judge Ural Glanville and prosecutors of improperly meeting with a key witness, Kenneth “Lil Woody” Copeland, and allegedly threatening to jail Copeland if he did not testify.
This case and judge is off the reservation. This is an instant mistrial. I cannot believe the Judge thinks taking a defense atty into custody isn't a mistrial. BRIAN STEELE is a real one. Defense lawyers across the country should be terrified by the lack of judicial knowledge https://t.co/qtVykTyNj4
— Bradford Cohen (@bradfordcohen) June 10, 2024
Steel refused to reveal the source of his information about the alleged private meeting, leading Judge Glanville to find him in contempt of court and order him to serve 20 weekend days in jail.
In response, Cohen, who represented Kodak Black in a 2022 drug case, took to social media to criticize the judge’s actions, stating that the arrest of Young Thug’s attorney should result in an “instant mistrial.”
Cohen argued that the judge’s decision to take a defense attorney into custody is a violation of the defendant’s right to counsel and should automatically trigger a mistrial.
“This case and judge is off the reservation. This is an instant mistrial. I cannot believe the Judge thinks taking a defense atty into custody isn’t a mistrial. BRIAN STEELE is a real one. Defense lawyers across the country should be terrified by the lack of judicial knowledge,”
Cohen wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Steel has since appealed the contempt order and asked for bond, while his colleague, Keith Davis, protested the continuation of the trial without Steel’s presence. Judge Glanville, however, has refused to halt the proceedings, stating that the leaking of information from the alleged private meeting was a “violation of the sacrosanctness of the judge’s chambers.”
The chaos surrounding the Young Thug RICO trial has led some legal experts to speculate about the possibility of a mistrial, with Cohen’s comments adding to the growing concerns about the judge’s handling of the case.
As the trial continues, the outcome of Steel’s appeal and the potential impact on the overall proceedings remain to be seen.
Potential Consequences Of A Mistrial In The Young Thug RICO Case
A mistrial in the Young Thug RICO case could have several potential consequences:
Double Jeopardy: If a mistrial is granted due to the alleged secret meeting between the judge, prosecution, and witness, it could potentially lead to the dismissal of all charges against Young Thug and his co-defendants, as the prosecution would have already attempted to secure a conviction through improper means. This would be based on the principle of double jeopardy, which prohibits a defendant from being tried twice for the same crime.
Recusal of the Judge: If the mistrial is granted, the judge, Ural Glanville, might be asked to recuse himself from the case. This would involve the judge stepping aside and allowing another judge to take over the trial. If Glanville refuses to recuse himself, the defense could appeal the decision and wait until the trial ends to launch an appeal.
New Trial or Dismissal: Depending on the outcome of the mistrial, the case could either be retried with a new judge or the charges could be dismissed entirely. If the mistrial is granted due to the alleged improper meeting, it is possible that the entire case could be dismissed, as the prosecution would have already attempted to secure a conviction through improper means.
Impact on the Legal Community: A mistrial in this case could have significant implications for the legal community, particularly in regards to the handling of RICO cases. It could lead to a reevaluation of the procedures and protocols used in such cases to ensure that the rights of defendants are protected.
Potential Appeal: If a mistrial is granted, the prosecution could appeal the decision, which could lead to a lengthy and complex legal process. The defense, on the other hand, could argue that the mistrial was justified and that the case should be dismissed.
Impact on Young Thug’s Future: A mistrial in the case could significantly impact Young Thug’s future, potentially leading to a dismissal of the charges against him and his co-defendants. This could result in a significant reduction in the potential sentence and a more favorable outcome for the defendants.
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