A Look at Pre-Trial Moves in the APS Cheating Case, with Former Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears

Friday, February 21, 2014 is the deadline for defendants in the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal case to decide whether they want to make plea deals with the prosecution, or go to trial.  Days before, prosecutors reached a deal with former human resources chief Millicent Few, one of the top-ranking officials under indictment.  Few is expected to testify that she witnessed criminal acts by then-superintendent Dr. Beverly Hall.  Hall’s attorneys strongly deny she did anything wrong, and say she expects to clear her name at trial.  The plea bargain deadline, and the deal between prosecutors and Millicent Few, complicated the choices for the 15 defendants who must make their decisions by the 21st (another 19 have already made plea agreements with prosecutors).  To get some perspective, WABE’s Denis O’Hayer spoke with Leah Ward Sears, former Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court.  She is now a partner in the Atlanta office of Schiff Hardin.

(Note:  WABE’s broadcast license is held by the Atlanta Board of Education.)