ATLANTA — It’s already the longest trial in state history, but now many lawyers and former judges say the Young Slime Life RICO gang case has entered uncharted waters.
“There’s not a playbook for what happens next,” said Atlanta-based criminal defense attorney Amanda Clark Palmer, who is not connected to this case but has nearly two decades of experience representing high-profile defendants, like Tex McIver.
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On Tuesday, Channel 2′s Michael Seiden confirmed that Fulton County Superior Judge Shukura Ingram, a former prosecutor, will now oversee the troubled trial following the recusal of Chief Judge Ural Glanville.
“She has a reputation for being a fair judge,” added Clark-Palmer. " A very prepared judge and she expects everyone who appears in front of her to be prepared as well.”
The former prosecutor with six years experience on the bench will now be faced with several possibilities, including picking up right where Glanville left off or she could also file a motion to recurse herself.
“Does Judge Ingram go and read all the transcripts from the many months of trials that we’ve had so far?” said Clark Palmer. “Does she pick up where they left off ? Does it start over?”
Defense attorneys representing hip hop superstar Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, and his alleged associates called Glanville’s recusal a “win” for their clients and some told Channel 2 that they plan on filing motions for a mistrial.
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“If the court believes that the prosecution actually provoked the mistrial or did something to cause the mistrial, then the court would have the authority to say, ‘this defendant cannot be tried again, and I’m going to dismiss the case,’” Clark Palmer said. “Then double jeopardy would prevent the case from going forward.”
The decision to replace Glanville came a few weeks after he held a controversial private meeting with prosecutors and a key witness.
Clark Palmer said the recent events have been “embarrassing” and she believes that public trust in the judicial system must be restored.
“It’s not a good look for us nationwide,” she said. “There need to be efforts to rehabilitate what has gone wrong and try to restore the image that some kind of justice is going on in Fulton county because that’s not the image that’s out there right now.”
Channel 2 Action News reached out to the Fulton County DA’s Office, but a spokeswoman declined to comment.
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