Who said ‘Good’?
At a hearing on Monday, former Atlanta school Superintendent Beverly Hall’s attorney sought to delay the test-cheating trial to give doctors time to try to save Hall’s life from cancer. The following exchange took place during the hearing:
Judge Jerry Baxter: “It’s probable if we take your route the case will never be tried.”
Andrew Young (from the front row of the courtroom gallery): “Good.”
Baxter: “Who said ‘Good’?”
(Young raises his hand.)
Baxter: “Okay Mr. Young, you’re going to need to go outside. I mean, you can’t interrupt the – I mean, you said ‘Good’? You yelled out ‘Good’?”
Young: “It would be merciful for this court, for these prosecutors, for this whole city if this trial never took place.”
Baxter: “And everything just sort of go away?”
Young: “No, it won’t go away, your honor.”
Baxter: “Well, is that your wish, that it just vanish?”
Young: “No. The school system has repaired itself. The state has done everything it could to wreck a very good school system.”
Baxter: “To wreck a good school system?”
Young: “Yes, they did. I mean, firing teachers without – threatening principals.… We got to put the city back together, your honor. And putting one person in or out of jail — “
(A deputy approaches Young.)
Baxter: “No, he can stay. Let him have his two cents.”
Young: “I’m just saying that it’s a waste of taxpayers’ money. She’s got to stand before God before long. Both sides say it. Let God judge her. … I think justice has to have some mercy to it to be relevant.”
Baxter: “Okay. Thank you, sir. … People, their careers ruined. And it was the saddest thing I have ever seen. … I believe it should proceed before a jury of their peers.”
About the Author
Bill Rankin has been an AJC reporter for more than 30 years. His father, Jim Rankin, worked as an editor for the newspaper for 26 years, retiring in 1986. Bill has primarily covered the state’s court system, doing all he can do to keep the scales of justice on an even keel. Since 2015, he has been the host of the newspaper’s Breakdown podcast.
