Jury Finally Selected For Young Thug/YSL Trial After A Year
A jury has finally been selected for the YSL (Young Slime Life) trial involving rapper Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams. This trial, initially scheduled to commence in January, encountered several delays and complications. For months, the court struggled to assemble a jury.
On Wednesday morning, Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville emphasized the urgency of swearing in a jury that day. Initially, there were 50 qualified jurors, but after a lengthy process lasting about four hours, the group was narrowed down to 12 primary jurors and six alternates.
Judge Glanville addressed the selected jurors, requesting them to raise their right hands, and then proceeded to read the charges and administer the oath. Following this, the jurors were dismissed and instructed to return on the first day of the trial.
“When you return, we will begin with opening statements and present the case at that time,” Judge Glanville informed the assembled jurors.
Young Thug, together with six other co-defendants, faces accusations of running a street gang named YSL. Prosecutors allege that this gang is linked to a series of violent crimes, including murder. Recently, the prosecution has expanded its list of witnesses, while the defense is eagerly awaiting crucial evidence for the case.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis contends that Williams played a central role in the criminal activities of the YSL street gang. In contrast, the rapper staunchly maintains his innocence.
Originally, the jury selection was planned for after Thanksgiving, but it was moved up to this week due to concerns expressed by attorneys about ensuring a speedy trial. The jury will be selected from a pool of 48 qualified individuals.
Young Thug has been incarcerated since May of the previous year, along with 27 other individuals, all charged with 56 violations of Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Since then, many of his co-defendants have opted to plead guilty and accept plea deals.
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) indictment was officially filed on May 9, 2022. Initially, Williams was only implicated in two counts: the first being a conspiracy to violate RICO, and the fifty-sixth involving participation in criminal street gang activities.
Count 56 specifically alleged that he held a leadership position within YSL and had direct or indirect involvement in various criminal activities, including murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery, theft, drug sales, and other illegal acts.
Subsequently, he faced an additional six counts following searches of his residence. If Williams is ultimately found guilty on all counts, he could potentially face a life sentence in prison.
Judge Glanville emphasized the significance of Wednesday, stating that jury selection needed to be completed promptly due to the requirement for a speedy trial. He clarified that a jury must be seated this week to avoid the expiration of the indictments.
A hearing has been scheduled for November 8 to assess whether the rapper’s lyrics can be used as evidence in the case.
The trial is expected to commence on November 27.
How Are Jurors Selected?
In the United States, any citizen who is 18 years or older, proficient in English, and a resident of the county in which they have been summoned is generally eligible for jury duty.
However, Georgia’s Administrative Office of the Courts outlines several exceptions that could disqualify a potential juror:
1. You cannot have served on a jury within the last 12 months.
2. You cannot be under a conservatorship.
3. You cannot currently be serving on a grand jury or another trial jury.
4. You cannot be a convicted felon or a public officer convicted of malfeasance whose civil rights have been revoked.
Jury selection is typically done randomly, but the chosen jurors should collectively reflect a cross-section of the relevant community.
In the specific case of the YSL trial, the demographic breakdown of the seated jury consists of:
– 10 Black females
– 2 white females
– 3 Black males
– 3 white males
[Fox5 Atlanta]
Here is a previous article that details why it was taking so long to get the jury selected.
Another setback was Thug’s lawyer being arrested in court.
