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.”
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