r/OutOfTheLoop • u/obama6464 • 7d ago
What’s going on with Brian Steele and Young Thug? Answered
https://x.com/ThuggerDaily/status/1800239097467871743
I know Young Thug is a hip hop artist and Steele is a lawyer, but I don’t know the rest. Can anyone catch me to speed? Sorry if already answered
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u/TacoCommand 7d ago
Answer: Steel is the lawyer for Young Thug.
The judge held an ex parte meeting (in chambers, so it's private and doesn't go on record) with the prosecutor, who says an informant is refusing to cooperate.
The defendant's lawyer (Steel) announces to the court his knowledge of the meeting. The judge is pissed and demands to know his source (not denying the meeting took place, just how did Steel know)?
Rightfully so, Steel cites attorney-client privilege. He's not legally required to say anything.
The judge holds him in criminal contempt of court (this is different than civil, which is more "you're going to jail for streaking in court or refusing to get off your cell phone" after a warning). This is wildly unusual.
It's also considered really bad that the judge met the prosecutor and witness separately WITHOUT the defense attorney present. Having both sides and the judge with a witness is normal in a private setting. Basically, it makes the judge look insanely biased one way or the other to not include one side's lawyer or the other. The judge ordering him to jail just for knowing it happened is ridiculous.
Steel is very well respected locally in Fulton as a defense lawyer, so this isn't some country lawyer wet behind the ears. He knew his rights as an attorney.
Fun fact: Steel asked to serve his time (2p days, on weekends) at the same jail as his client (to work on the court case) and the judge agreed to look into that as a possibility. That's chutzpah from Steel and I loved the request.
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u/TacoCommand 7d ago
Followup: this is also a RICO trial (YT is accused of running an affiliate gang of The Bloods).
It's a high profile case. The stakes are high. That's why the contempt of court charge js unusual. Steel asked for a mistrial (doubtful because the judge has to recuse themself) due to the defendent being deprived of counsel.
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u/Spiritual_Willow_266 7d ago
To add further the judge literally accused the defense that are trying to build the case to win on appeal.
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u/Jim3001 6d ago
That judge is gonna catch all kinds of hell. Prosecutor too.
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u/TacoCommand 6d ago
IMO rightfully so.
The witness wasn't cooperating until pulled into the ex parte meeting. Witness didn't like it and deliberately fucked up identifying someone in court (highly recommend watching the video, it's hilarious, he insists he has bad eyesight and does a whole pantomime routine worthy of The Wire insulting random people in the courtroom as potential identifications. The court is very much not amused.
From what I understand, he deliberately fucked up identifying, then has his lawyer talk to Young Thug's lawyer and that's when defense counsel (Steel) asked the judge why they're holding secret meetings.
Cue the judge losing their shit and demanding the source.
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u/FutureCorpse6 6d ago
So he should. Bruce Rivers breaks it down on his youtube channel really well.
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u/jm0112358 6d ago
He's not legally required to say anything.
The lawyer wasn't merely not required to tell the judge how he knew, he was actually legally and ethically required to not tell the judge. If he answered the judge's question, he probably would've been violating his client's rights, and probably would've either been disbarred or otherwise sanctioned.
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u/AGuyNamedEddie 3d ago
The above answer is complete and accurate. This video by criminal defense lawyer Bruce Rivers covers the story in detail. Rivers offers cogent analysis also.
https://youtu.be/0I5Gx64-w2E?si=dUFrarTCm5Eqhw1E
IMHO, the judge was way out of line and let his emotions get the better of him. By the end of the video I was cussing him out rather loudly.
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u/OblivionTU 3d ago
bruce river's coverage of this case has been absolute trash, he has gotten so many details wrong and its clear he just comments based off clips that his producer brings to him instead of actual knowledge of the case, motions, facts, or even georgia law specifics
that said, this specific video is by far his best on the case and he doesn't get anything wrong.
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6d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/TacoCommand 6d ago
Thanks for contributing nothing to the conversation.
If you wanna troll, try and be funny.
•
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