The longest-running criminal trial in Georgia history is poised to extend further—if not be derailed entirely—depending on a critical decision by the court. The criminal racketeering case against rapper Young Thug has been indefinitely paused as a Fulton County Superior Court judge deliberates whether the trial judge should recuse himself. Legal experts indicate that this decision will require an evidentiary hearing, potentially allowing up to 90 days for a ruling.

This interruption is the latest in a series of disruptions that have turned the trial into a spectacle, captivating metro Atlanta’s legal and entertainment communities and inspiring numerous social media memes. The televised proceedings have highlighted the ongoing scrutiny of the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, which is also prosecuting former President Donald Trump for state racketeering charges related to the 2020 election.

Brian Steel, the lawyer representing Young Thug (whose real name is Jeffery Lamar Williams), has accused Judge Ural Glanville and Fulton County prosecutors of misconduct in a 200-page motion, calling for their disqualification. Steel’s motion specifically cites a private meeting on June 10 between Glanville, prosecutors Adriane Love and Simone Hylton, and a key witness, Kenneth Copeland. Steel alleges this meeting, which excluded defense attorneys, could facilitate witness tampering or intimidation.

The recusal motion stems from Steel’s claim that the judge and prosecutors pressured Copeland to testify after he was jailed for refusing to do so. This accusation led to a contentious court exchange, with Glanville demanding the source of Steel’s information. When Steel refused to disclose this, Glanville ordered him into custody for contempt of court, sentencing him to 20 days in jail to be served on weekends. The Georgia Supreme Court later intervened, granting Steel an emergency motion for bond, allowing his release pending an appeal of the contempt finding.

Prosecutors have disputed Steel’s allegations, stating in a nine-page response that the June 10 meeting was solely about Copeland’s contempt status and did not require defense presence, thus providing no grounds for Glanville’s recusal.

The trial remains on hold while another Superior Court judge determines whether Glanville should step down. Local civil rights attorney Mario Williams, not involved in the case, described the trial as resembling a reality-TV show, noting the unprecedented nature of the proceedings.

Young Thug, 32, first gained mainstream success with his 2014 hit “Stoner” and has since achieved considerable fame, including a Grammy Award for co-writing Childish Gambino’s “This Is America.” However, his career took a significant hit in 2022 when Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis presented a sprawling indictment accusing him and 27 co-defendants of criminal gang activity under Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute. Young Thug is alleged to lead the Young Slime Life (YSL) gang, which prosecutors claim is involved in various violent and illegal acts, including murder and drug dealing.

The trial, initially expected to last six to nine months, began with jury selection in January 2023. This phase dragged on for ten months, partly due to the high number of defendants. By November, opening statements commenced, with some defendants having taken plea deals and others opting for separate trials. A subsequent delay occurred in December when defendant Shannon Stillwell was stabbed in jail. The trial resumed against Young Thug, Stillwell, and four other men, all maintaining their innocence against charges carrying sentences of five to 20 years. Young Thug remains jailed during the trial.

As of July 1, the trial was paused over the defense’s motion for the judge’s recusal, surpassing the previous longest criminal trial in Georgia, which involved Atlanta public school educators accused of racketeering in a cheating scandal and lasted about eight months. The longest U.S. criminal trial, lasting 2½ years, involved a California preschool operator accused of child sexual abuse in the 1980s.

Andrew Fleischman, a Georgia criminal defense lawyer, remarked on the extraordinary duration of this trial, which contrasts sharply with the typical two-week duration of felony trials. Prolonged trials raise concerns about taxpayer costs, fairness to jurors, and defense lawyers’ ability to attend to other clients.

For trial watchers, the case against Young Thug has been enlightening, exposing the rapper’s life and subjecting his song lyrics to legal scrutiny. Prosecutors argue that his lyrics and social media posts evidence criminal gang activity, while critics argue that the law unfairly targets Black hip-hop artists’ self-expression.

Social media users have found amusement in courtroom recitations of Young Thug’s lyrics and his reactions to hearing his music played in court. Witnesses like Copeland, a former Young Thug associate, have gained attention for their reluctance to cooperate with prosecutors.

Bizarre moments have further marked the trial, including a deputy allegedly smuggling contraband to a defendant, a court Zoom hack to shout “Free Thug!” and “Mistrial!,” and accidental exposure of jurors’ faces on the livestream.

If Glanville is recused and a new judge appointed, the trial may continue without restarting. However, given the tumult, the defense could move for a mistrial, according to Anthony Michael Kreis, an assistant professor at Georgia State University College of Law.

The trial’s dramatic events have lent it a soap opera quality, prolonging the proceedings far beyond expectations. The case continues to unfold, its conclusion uncertain, maintaining its grip on public attention as it navigates unprecedented legal challenges.