Following a lengthy and intricate selection process lasting months, a jury will finally be seated in the "Young Slime Life" RICO case in Fulton County this week, according to confirmation from rapper Young Thug's attorney to 11Alive. Judge Ural Glanville announced during a court session on Monday that jury seating would commence on Wednesday, November 1, moving up the timeline due to Georgia's speedy trial law. Young Thug, legally known as Jeffery Williams, had requested a speedy trial after his initial arrest last year, leading to the decision to expedite the jury selection process to meet the November 6 deadline.
The jury selection procedure, which began in January, has been notably protracted, described by defense attorneys in April as "the longest in Georgia history." Young Thug has remained in custody since his arrest in May 2022, enduring approximately a year-and-a-half of pretrial detention. Despite multiple attempts, his requests for bond have been denied, with his attorneys highlighting concerns about his deteriorating health and challenging the conditions of his confinement, including sleep deprivation and inadequate nutrition.
Prosecutors have built their case around the assertion that Young Thug is the primary figure of the alleged gang, referring to him as "King Slime." They have alleged evidence of witness intimidation. In response, the rapper's legal team vehemently denied these claims, contending that YSL is merely his record label, Young Stoner Life, and that there is no street gang associated with it.
Throughout the legal proceedings, Judge Glanville has opted to keep Young Thug incarcerated without bond, while several co-defendants initially indicted alongside the rapper have either accepted plea deals or been dropped from the case for various reasons, including rapper Gunna's release from jail last December.
