Potential juror for Young Thug trial ordered to write 30-page essay after skipping return to court
Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville. Photo from the Fulton County Superior Court website.
A juror who skipped a return court appearance to be considered as a juror in the trial of rapper Young Thug has been ordered to write a 30-page essay focusing on the history of jury service in Georgia.
The woman, identified as Juror No. 64, had traveled to the Dominican Republic for business instead of returning to criminal court in Fulton County, Georgia, to be considered as a juror, report the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta News First and WSB-TV.
On Jan. 12, Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville ordered the woman to write the essay with 10 primary sources and 10 secondary sources and to submit it within three weeks. It must be written in APA style, which is often used for academic documents. Software will be used to check for plagiarism.
Glanville said he wanted the focus to be on history “because years ago, people that looked like us couldn’t serve on a jury; it was prohibited.” Glanville and the juror are Black.
The woman was under consideration to serve as a juror for a racketeering trial involving Young Thug and other alleged members of the Young Slime Life gang. Prosecutors allege that the gang committed murders, armed robberies and assaults.
The potential juror told Glanville that she sent jury services a copy of her travel itinerary after her first trip to court as a potential juror.
“I didn’t really know I was in violation until the sheriff showed up,” she said.
