Not guilty pleas entered in Atlanta cheating case
By | Associated Press – Fri, May 3, 2013
ATLANTA (AP) — A not guilty plea was entered Friday on behalf ofBeverly Hall, the former superintendent of Atlanta Public Schoolswho is charged in a broad conspiracy alleging educators cheated on standardized tests to mask poor student performance for personal gain.
Hall was among several former Atlanta educators who appeared inFulton County Superior Court. Hall sat quietly in the gallery, standing up as her attorney J. Tom Morgan said she would waive a formal reading of the charges. The court then entered a not guilty plea on her behalf, and she left the courthouse without speaking to reporters.
Hall's attorneys have promised to mount a strong defense, saying Hall was not aware of or involved in any cheating. Outside of court, Hall's attorney said he expects a number of the 35 defendants in the case will ask to be tried separately, although Hall would not be among them.
"So potentially you're going to have 35 defendants with over 50 attorneys. That will be the longest trial in Georgia history. The longest criminal trial for sure," Morgan said.
Attorneys may argue that being tried so that a jury can consider the charges against them without being influenced by allegations against co-defendants.
On Friday, Judge Jerry Baxter indicated he was inclined to have one trial and set the date for May 5, 2014.
Baxter also dismissed a request for an order barring attorneys from speaking to the media, but