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Years of chaoscould finally be catching up tothe YSL case.
Steel soon filed to haveGlanville recused from the case, and another judge eventually ruled to recuse him.
Its already a rarity for a case to be reassigned in the middle of such a complicated trial.
The case has now been assigned to its third judge, but its far from cleaned up yet.
Heres whats going on.
Whos judging this trial now?
Judge Paige Reese Whitaker has been assigned to the YSL case following Ingrams recusal.
We had a problem getting jurors; imagine a judge seeing this case, Rahmani says.
I wouldnt be surprised if more judges recuse themselves.
(And, he notes, a judges own recusal decision cannot be reviewed.)
Eventually, a judge will have to take this case, Rahmani adds.
What will a new judge need to do?
Whoever eventually takes over the case will need familiarity with the case up to that point.
Theres really no substitute for being there in court and hearing the testimony live.
Pausing the trial too long for preparation would also affect the jurors who are still committed to the case.
It already feels like a 13th Amendment violation, Fleischman says.
How can she intelligently rule on a directed-verdict motion for a trial she wasnt there at the beginning?
Later on, problems would certainly arise when finalizing instructions to the jury.
Attorneys have to have some evidence to support the jury instructions [theyre] requesting, Fleischman adds.
How is she going know what evidence there was other than taking their words for it?
From the outside, Rahmani agrees.
How would you even explain that to the jurors?
I dont think thats a particularly good idea.
So the case is heading for a mistrial, then?
It sure looks like it.
The defense will likely argue for a mistrial with prejudice.
That cuts against the goading narrative.
It is a real possibility that were going to start all over, Rahmani says.
It would be up to defendants, though, to accept those plea deals.
Brian Steel is tasting blood, Fleischman says of Young Thugs attorney.
His client is swearing by his innocence.
Hes got a good case.
He might not accept it.
He might want to go forward to another trial.
What about bond?
I think they have a strong argument for bond, Fleischman says.
They all showed up for trial.
They have excellent, prepared counsel.
You should not be holding people in jail for years before they get a trial, Fleischman adds.
So how much longer is the case going to take?
If a new judge declares a mistrial, it could take months or even years for a retrial.
Whoever is the judge on the next case, I hope they exercise more restraint, Fleischman says.
So you might as well start over [now] and do it right, Rahmani says.
Do what you shouldve done the first time.
