APS cheating trial jury challenge hearing to be next week

A hearing on a motion challenging the pool of prospective jurors for the Atlanta Public Schools test-cheating trial will be held next week.

Defense attorney Bob Rubin filed a motion last week saying a hearing is needed to find out why African-Americans are underrepresented among jurors summoned for the trial of 12 former APS employees.

Superior Court Judge Jerry Baxter said today he would narrow the focus of the hearing to whether there had been “intentional finagling” with the jurors summoned.

Prosecutors have objected to the challenge, questioning the timeliness of the motion and data cited by the defense.