Who is Paige Reese Whitaker? Young Thug’s YSL trial gets new Judge hours after Shakura Ingram recuses herself in two days

Hours after Judge Shakura Ingram recused herself from the Young Thug and YSL case, Judge Paige Reese Whitaker was given the responsibility of the judicial officer in the case. This happened after Judge Ural Granville was removed from the RICO case, and his replacement, Judge Shakura L. Ingram, was handed over the opportunity.

However, Ingram also recused from the case, citing her connection with Akeiba Stanley, courthouse deputy from Fulton County. Shakura mentioned that Akeiba was arrested in 2023 as a suspect for smuggling contraband to another YSL defender.

According to Billboard, Ingram also clarified that prosecutors claimed Stanley had an “inappropriate relationship” with the YSL member. Fearing how it would create an “appearance of impropriety,” she said in the court document:

"This may undermine the public's confidence in the impartiality of the proceedings. While the Court does not regard the aforementioned situation as creating any actual bias for or against any party to this case, the Court does view this as a matter that could cause a reasonable person to question the Court's impartiality and reasonably give rise to the appearance of impropriety should the Court remain on this case."

The new judge on the YSL and Young Thug trial, Paige Reese Whitaker, has a massive professional experience. After passing out from the Duke University of Law in 1992, Whitaker has gained a lot of legal experience, as she has also been in the Superior Court of Fulton County since 2017.

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Paige Reese Whitaker, the third judge on Young Thug’s case, has been the Chair of the Georgia Commission on Family Violence

YSL and Young Thug’s 19-month-old case, which started in May 2022, now has a third Judge within a few days. As Shakura left the position within just two days of becoming the judge, the crucial seat has now been given to Paige Reese Whitaker, who has her fair share of experience in the legal world.

Judge Whitaker has been the Sustainer of the Junior League of Atlanta and the Ambassador for the Pink Ribbon Story Foundation. She later became the Treasurer of the Lawyers Club of Atlanta.

Per Fulton Court's official website, Judge Whitaker has also been a Leadership Academy Alumnus in the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers and the Chair of the Georgia Commission on Family Violence. She is a former Fulton County prosecutor who worked at the state Attorney General’s Office. She has been a judge in Fulton County since 2017.

Young Thug, along with other members of YSL, have been charged with various offenses, including the violation of RICO, participation in street gang activity, drug possession and distribution, and even possession of a deadly weapon without permission.

Along with Young Thug, almost 25 more people were charged with similar offenses. However, a few have been released over time, including popular rapper Gunna. While social media users continue to pour in their thoughts on the judges being changed now and then, Young Thug's attorneys or representatives have not yet addressed the situation.