Kenneth “Lil Woody” Copeland, on the left, tries to fire his attorney during a break in the YSL RICO trial on June 11, 2024. (Law&Crime)
A pivotal state’s witness offered fireworks and then some on Tuesday in the racketeering (RICO) case against several Atlanta-area rappers and others affiliated with YSL Records, the label founded by Jeffrey Williams, better known by his stage name, Young Thug.
In a morning break between the state’s direct examination, the attorney representing the witness answered in the affirmative when asked by Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural D. Glanville if she “would like to be released” from serving as counsel.
The lawyer’s voice was somewhat demure — but the state’s witness thrust his head forward and loudly affirmed the shake-up.
“She fired,” Kenneth “Lil Woody” Copeland told the court — saying he no longer wanted or required the attorney’s services.
“She’s fired?” Glanville asked. “OK.”
After that, the judge briefly went over Copeland’s options going forward — saying he could represent himself, keep his current attorney, hire a new attorney, or have the court appoint one for him.
“She fired!” – Kenneth “Lil Woody” Copeland tells Judge Glanville about his attorney. #YSL #YoungThug pic.twitter.com/y5Q3t3C5ZB
— Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) June 11, 2024
“I don’t want her,” the witness insisted.
Copeland, who has not been charged in the expansive RICO indictment, questioned whether he even needed a lawyer at all.
And, in the end, he decided against it.
“I’m good,” Copeland said.
Glanville then asked the attorney if she filed a notice of withdrawal — and explained that under Peach State court rules, Copeland would have 10 days to object to his attorney’s attempt to withdraw.
The attorney replied that she never even filed a notice of appearance and was only ever a stand-in attorney “as a courtesy for judicial efficiency” but said she would file the motion if the court insisted.
“I’m not gonna let her withdraw at this point,” Glanville ultimately decided — reasoning that since the attorney had been present so far, she would need to remain at least until Copeland finished testifying. “I’ll insist that you remain with us while he’s on the stand.”
Then came another wrinkle.
“Well, your honor, I’d just like to say: before he started testifying, I was fired,” the attorney told the court
The judge reacted by slightly raising his voice: “Well, I don’t know that, ma’am. That’s not something that I have notice or knowledge of. That’s the whole purpose of the rule — so we can flesh out all those things.”
Glanville then expressed some sympathy for Copeland’s forced — for now, at least — representation and sought to move forward.
Then, another catch.
“Can I approach?” Copeland’s apparently-fired attorney asked. “With the state?”
To which the judge initially replied: “No.”
Glanville paused a beat or two before, clearly annoyed, asked: “What does he want to tell me?
“I don’t want to say it in open court,” Copeland’s attorney replied.
A sidebar began and a defense attorney moved to take part — but was quickly shut down by the court.
WOW! Copeland’s attorney asked to approach the bench. The state followed her up there. When the defense went to head up there, Judge Glanville said, “I don’t believe you have the right to be up here.” #YSL #YoungThug pic.twitter.com/YmE7niA95C
— Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) June 11, 2024
Defense attorneys quickly lined up to object.
“It creates the appearance of impropriety and bias from the court,” one of the defense attorneys objected.
Young Thug’s lead defense attorney Brian Steel, fresh off a knock-down-drag-out bruising bit of battle with the judge the day before over ex parte and contempt issues, also offered an objection on the record.
Young Thug and five other co-defendants — Shannon “SB” Stillwell, Marquavius “Qua” Huey, Deamonte “Yak Gotti” Kendrick, Quamarvious “Qua” Nichols, and Rodalius “Lil Rod” Ryan — face a long trial after an 86-page RICO indictment was filed against 28 total defendants in 2023. Since then, nine defendants have taken plea deals, including Antonio “Mounk Tounk” Sledge and Williams’ brother Quantavious “Unfoonk” Grier. Others have had their cases separated.
Tuesday is day 89 in the marathon proceedings.
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