Young Thug trial juror ordered to write an essay on the importance of jury duty
A woman in Georgia who failed to show up for jury duty for the high-profile trial of rapper Young Thug was ordered by the judge to write a 30-page essay on the importance of jury service. The potential juror, identified only as Juror #64, had been on a trip to the Dominican Republic and did not attend jury selection when it began on Monday in Fulton County.
Upon her return to the courtroom on Thursday, Judge Ural Glanville initially threatened to hold her in contempt of court, which typically carries a $1,000 fine, 20 days in jail, or both. However, after confirming that she was a college graduate, he proposed a different punishment: a 30-page paper, due in three weeks, that must address the history of jury service, discrimination in jury selection, and who could not serve on a jury in the past. The essay will be run through a plagiarism checker and she will have to present it to the judge afterward.
Rapper Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Lamar Williams, is currently facing trial in Fulton County, Georgia on charges of racketeering and gang conspiracy. Prosecutors allege that he used his YSL music label to further these illegal activities.
The trial, which is expected to last six to nine months, could potentially set new legal precedents as prosecutors have submitted lyrics by the artist as evidence of criminal intent. However, critics argue that these verses are being selectively chosen and misrepresented in courtrooms across the country.
Jury selection for the case is expected to take at least two weeks, with a number of potential jurors already excused or requesting exemptions due to various reasons. Up to 300 witnesses may be called to testify, including Dr. Erik Nielson, a leading expert on the use of rap lyrics in criminal cases, and other rappers like Lil Wayne and Rich Homie Quan.