Young Thug, YSL Trial: Motion to Recuse Judge Rachel Krause Denied
Judge Keeps Case Despite Bias Allegations
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Rachel Krause has dismissed the motion to recuse herself from presiding over a large-scale racketeering trial involving GRAMMY Award-winning artist Young Thug (real name Jeffery Williams) and various other associates. The motion was presented by Brian Steel, the legal representative for Young Thug, and cited two primary concerns: that Judge Glanville is a fellow judge and a $2,000 campaign contribution to Judge Krause in 2024.
Judge Denies Accusations of Bias Due to Campaign Contribution
In rejecting the motion, Judge Krause clarified that for such a motion to be granted, it must be submitted on time, be legally sound and if the affidavit outlines valid reasons for recusation. Judge Krause concluded the motion was timely and legally sound, but the listed grounds were not convincing enough to justify her recusal. The campaign donation, she argued, was not excessively large, and no other factors warranting her removal were submitted.
Standard Campaign Contributions not Grounds for Recusal
Judge Krause referred to precedents set by the Georgia Supreme Court and the Code of Judicial Conduct, which state that typical campaign contributions do not call for recusal unless more compelling circumstances are visible. Initially, the recusal motion suggested that Judge Krause had also contributed to Judge Glanville’s campaign, but this has been modified to reflect only the contribution made to Judge Krause’s campaign.
Judge Rachel Krause’s Career and Civic Contributions
Judge Rachel R. Krause was appointed to the bench in 2018 by Gov. Nathan Deal, and in 2020, she was elected for a full term. Before being assigned to the bench, Judge Krause had a vast legal career, including partnership roles at law firms Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP and Ford & Harrison. Her experience extends across multiple legal domains, such as civil litigation, commercial litigation, and appellate work. Despite being partially paralyzed by a car accident at the age of 17, she went on to graduate from Georgia Southern University in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and earned her law degree from the Mercer University School of Law.
Possible Implications of the Young Thug/YSL Trial
The observably long trial, which started on November 27, 2023, already holds the record for the longest jury selection and may exceed records for witness testimony length. The prosecutors are set to prove that YSL (Young Slime Life), rather than being a mere record label (Young Stoner Life), is a large-scale criminal gang responsible for various crimes.
Young Thug faces eight criminal counts under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, along with drug and firearm charges. His defense team continues to argue that he does not lead the alleged gang, contrary to prosecutors’ contention.
The trial continues to be marked by numerous arrests, charges, and interruptions. There are concerns it could extend for several years given the record number of witnesses involved. The future trajectory of this trial remains to be seen.
