Fani Willis and Aide Criticized for ‘Time-Wasting’ Motion in Young Thug Trial
Ramniwas
Fani Willis and Aide Criticized for ‘Time-Wasting’ Motion in Young Thug Trial
With a mix of mockery and gravity, a Georgia attorney defending one of the defendants in the YSL racketeering (RICO) trial submitted a motion on Tuesday, sharply criticizing the latest strategy used by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her chief deputy.
The title of the defense motion sums up the current dispute:
“Response to the State’s Motion In Limine Seeking Permission to Present All Relevant Evidence to the Jury and Request to Overrule Defendant’s Objections Based on Allegations that the Evidence is a ‘Waste of Time'”
A footnote in the filing by defense attorney Doug Weinstein concedes: “Wow. That is really a mouthful.”
The defense attorney argues that any perceived verbosity in the title of the defense motion stems entirely from the state’s previous motion, which prompted the detailed response.
The prosecution’s motion is titled:
“Motion In Limine Seeking Permission for the State to Present All Relevant Evidence to the Jury and to Overrule Defendant’s Objections Claiming the Evidence Is a ‘Waste of Time'”
Although the year-long trial of Jeffery “Young Thug” Williams and his co-defendants has been largely on hold this month due to hurricane season and missing police reports, both the prosecution and defense have continued to file motions.
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In the state’s motion, Willis and Fulton County Chief Deputy District Attorney Adriane Love sought to “present all relevant evidence to the jury and to deny objections to the presentation of relevant evidence on the grounds that such evidence constitutes a ‘waste of time.'”
In response, defense attorney Weinstein labeled the motion as “frivolous” and argued it “deserves no serious reply,” though he felt “compelled” to respond given the state’s apparent plan to introduce a large amount of “pointless, cumulative evidence.” Weinstein contended that such evidence was “clearly inadmissible” under the applicable rules of evidence and accused the prosecutors of attempting to “suppress” objections through their motion.
The defense attorney also took aim at Willis and Love, ridiculing the motion for its vague and unsupported assertions:
In a remarkably brief and efficient piece of advocacy, the State requests this Honorable Court to deny all future defense objections under Rule 403, specifically concerning the presentation of relevant evidence it deems a “waste of time.” However, the State provides no statutory authority, case law, or even reference to the so-called highest legal authority, Carlson on Evidence, to justify its request. In doing so, the State effectively asks the Court to disregard the clear directives of the Georgia Legislature—and, by extension, those of nearly every other legislative and judicial body in the country—by flouting O.C.G.A. 24-4-403.
The merciless mocking continues.
“Ironically, the State’s motion is a textbook example of why this Honorable Court must intervene and prevent the State from wasting the time of all parties involved in this case by presenting evidence that, while relevant, is a waste of time under Rule 403,” the defense motion continues. “In a way, the motion requires no further opposition, as the motion itself stands as its own refutation.”
Last week, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker, who took over the lengthy and complex trial after Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural D. Glanville recused himself, criticized Chief Deputy District Attorney Adriane Love for “poor lawyering.”
“I can’t quite put my finger on it,” the judge told Love. “But it baffles me that someone with your experience repeatedly seems to deliberately hide the ball for as long as possible.”
Young Thug, along with five co-defendants—Shannon “SB” Stillwell, Marquavius “Qua” Huey, Deamonte “Yak Gotti” Kendrick, Quamarvious “Qua” Nichols, and Rodalius “Lil Rod” Ryan—are facing an extensive trial after an 86-page RICO indictment was filed against 28 defendants in 2022. Since then, nine defendants, including Antonio “Mounk Tounk” Sledge and Williams’ brother, Quantavious “Unfoonk” Grier, have reached plea deals, while others have had their cases severed.
