Six men and six women were picked Monday to sit as jurors in the Atlanta Public Schools test-cheating trial, a closely watched case that is expected to last several months.
The jury — composed of five whites, five African-Americans, one Hispanic and one Asian-American — will return next Monday for opening statements. Twelve educators and administrators are charged in a racketeering indictment and are accused of conspiring to change students’ answers on federally mandated curriculum tests.
After the 12 jurors, joined by 11 alternate jurors, were seated in the jury box, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Jerry Baxter thanked the roughly 90 people who were not chosen for their service.
“You are now excused,” Baxter said, prompting those free to leave to erupt into applause.
