In a surprising turn of events, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shukura Ingram has recused herself from the high-profile Young Thug/YSL RICO case.
The decision, detailed in an Order of Recusal filed Wednesday morning, was prompted by revelations of a romantic relationship between her former courthouse deputy and one of the co-defendants, Christian Eppinger.
Judge Ingram, who was randomly assigned to the case after the recusal of Judge Glanville, expressed concerns that the relationship would create an “appearance of impropriety.”
In her order, she emphasized the importance of maintaining public confidence in the judiciary’s independence and impartiality.
The former deputy, identified in court documents as Akeiba Stanley, had been assigned to Judge Ingram’s courtroom for nearly six months before her arrest.
Investigators uncovered her relationship with Eppinger after Fulton County deputies seized a laptop belonging to Eppinger’s attorney, Eric Johnson.
Eppinger allegedly used the laptop to communicate with other YSL members who were not in custody.
Just two days after this discovery, Stanley was arrested for allegedly using a phone to communicate with Eppinger inside and outside the courtroom.
She also reportedly visited him in his jail cell and attempted to smuggle contraband.
While Judge Ingram did not name the deputy in her Order of Recusal, the involvement of Stanley was corroborated by other court documents and media reports, including a June 2023 report by FOX 5 Atlanta on her arrest.
In her order, Judge Shukura Ingram stated that although she did not believe the situation created any “actual bias for or against any party to this case,” she recognized that it could lead a reasonable person to question the court’s impartiality.
To uphold the integrity of the judicial process, Judge Ingram requested the case be reassigned.
This development underscores the ongoing complexities and challenges surrounding the Young Thug/YSL RICO case.
As the proceedings continue, the court must navigate these issues to ensure a fair and unbiased trial.
The YSL trial has more twists and turns than a Ryan Murphy Netflix series!
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Source: Fox 5 Atlanta
