YSL Trial Judge Apologizes For Using The N-Word In Open Court

A judge in the YSL RICO trial has apologized for saying the “N-Word” in open court during a recent hearing in the case.

Judge Paige Reese Whitaker expressed her regret for not taking the time to read over a social media post submitted as evidence before reading it to the courtroom.

“I was reading out loud and basically saying it as my eyes were going over it for the first time ever,” she said in her explanation, which surfaced in a clip on social media. “I read out the word “n-i-g-g-a-s which I hope that was not offensive to anyone — it was certainly not meant to be offensive to anyone.”

Whitaker, the third and final judge to preside over the YSL RICO trial following the recusal of judges Ural Glanville and Shakura L. Ingram, insisted that her usage of the word was a mistake and that the term isn’t part of her own lexicon.

“I do not use that word,” she added. “I should have been looking first before I said it out loud to edit whether there were any offensive words.” Shannon Stillwell, one of the defendants in the case, can be heard in the clip telling Judge Whitaker that “no offense” was taken regarding her verbal mishap.

Young Thug recently struck a plea deal with Judge Whitaker and the prosecution that resulted in his release from prison. The agreement is part of a 40-year sentence that includes a five year prison sentence commuted to time served, 15 additional years of probation, and a “backloaded” 20-year sentence if he were to violate the terms of his sentence.

Young Thug was originally facing 120 years in prison if convicted of all charges.

“I appreciate that you do realize how much of an impact you have on people,” Whitaker told Young Thug during his sentencing, urging him to use his platform to denounce gang violence and other criminal activity.

“It’s past your neighborhood. It’s worldwide. And having come up from where you came up from — and living in and around that — you know that gangs are damaging to our community… Even if you choose to continue to rap, you need to try to use your influence to let kids know that’s not the way to go.”

See footage of Judge Whitaker’s apology here.