Trial begins in Atlanta cheating-related case
The first trial of a defendant in the Atlanta test-cheating scandal began Monday with the judge telling potential jurors they could help bring closure.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Jerry Baxter said the jury’s decision, whether guilty or not guilty, will help the community move on.
Former regional Superintendent Tamara Cotman faces a single count of trying to influence a witness. Prosecutors claim she harassed a principal during the cheating investigation.
About 250 prospective jurors filled out questionnaires during the first day of a trial that’s expected to last about four weeks, with opening statements planned for next Monday.
Thirty-five former Atlanta Public Schools employees, including Cotman, face additional criminal charges related to cheating, and they’re expected to go on trial next year.
About the Author
Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.
