Cheating Trial Underway with Jury Selection Process

Broadcast version of this story.

In courtroom 1C, which is called a ceremonial courtroom, the first set of potential jurors was given a questionnaire.

And they were also given a procedural speech by Judge Jerry Baxter which included instructions to be on time.

If jurors are late, they will be fined $200.

Afterwards, Judge Baxter, prosecutors and defense attorneys returned to courtroom 4D.

That’s Baxter’s regular courtroom, and that’s where more pre-trial motions were heard.

Defense attorney W. Scott Smith represents Theresia Copeland, a former testing coordinator at Benteen Elementary School.

Smith told the court he’d like access to review standardized tests from 2006 and 2007.

“I am asking the state to produce that evidence as far as the tests themselves so we can go through it. We’re willing to do it, but it takes about three weeks to do so. We’re willing to do it on own.”

That’s in order to do a handwriting analysis for Copeland.

But those tests are not the same prosecutors are expected to introduce as evidence.

Those exams are somewhere in Atlanta, all locked up in a warehouse.

And according to Atlanta assistant district attorney Fani Willis, too much money has already been spent.

“We have to ship them here. We’d have to pay that costs. That cost is about $20,000 per year/per test. So that’s on top of the $50,000 to the specification”

It’s taken over a year for the trial to begin since 35 were indicted, and it’s expected to last for months.

This trial is beginning without former school superintendent, Dr. Beverly Hall.

She has stage four breast cancer and is unable to assist in her defense.