“True.” Luke laughed. Already he felt better about the drama ahead. Thirty minutes later, after he’d gone through his strategy for the day, Luke was more ready than ever. All because his dad loved him that much.
Cameramen were arriving, setting up and creating a buzz around them. Luke and his dad stood and hugged before his dad took his place in the back corner of the courtroom. Luke watched him go. His father looked great for his age. Fit and tanned, proof of the miles of walks he and Elaine took every day. His dad turned and held his hands together, raising them up a bit. Then he mouthed the words Luke knew he could count on. “I’ll be praying.”
An hour later the courtroom was packed. Wendell was seated next to Luke, and across the aisle Eli Landsford sat beside Andy Nelson. The man looked terrible. Gray complexion, his hair long and stringy, hanging in his face. Back stooped. Whatever private battle he’d been going through, Andy was losing.
Two minutes before the trial was set to begin, Luke heard the courtroom door open again. Wendell turned and smiled, and Luke followed his gaze. A pretty black woman entered the courtroom. Whatever her relationship with Wendell, Luke was certain about this much: Wendell was thrilled to see her. She took one of the last seats and Judge Wells used her gavel to bring the courtroom to order.
Landsford gave his opening statement first, since he represented the plaintiff. He was dressed like a catalog model or a mafia pit boss. Luke saw him more as the latter. Pin-striped suit, shiny leather shoes, hair neatly styled. Just enough facial shadow to give off a dashing air as he strutted in front of the jury.
“This is a First Amendment case. Open and shut, really. Because the truth is, religious freedom cases are not difficult in today’s political landscape.” He smiled at the jurors like he was the best friend they never knew they had. “Certainly you all know that. And for that reason I apologize for wasting your time.”
Luke was on the edge of his seat. If Landsford pushed too far he would object. Luke didn’t want the jury’s first impression of him to be antagonistic. But if that was what it took, so be it. He would only let his opponent go so far before something would have to be done.
Landsford stopped pacing and smiled again. “What you absolutely must not do is let your emotions get the better of you in this case.” He looked over his shoulder at Wendell Quinn, then back to the jury. “Principal Quinn is a good man. A man intent on helping students, whatever that looks like.”
Great, Luke thought. He’s using my exact words.
“But you must not form an emotional connection with the matter at hand. The Constitution of the United States is not an emotional text, and neither is the First Amendment. This is a black-and-white document intent on protecting the freedoms allotted to each and every citizen.” He smiled. “So let’s not trivialize it by letting our sentiments rule our decisions. There’s too much at stake for that.”
The jury was hanging on every word. They might as well have been applauding Landsford. They were that caught up in what he was saying, that much in agreement. Luke could tell by the looks on their faces.
Landsford’s remarks took only a few minutes. He told them the trial shouldn’t take long. Open and shut. Find Wendell guilty. Close down the ridiculous after-school Bible study and they could all get on with more important matters.
Before he sat down, Landsford flashed his best smile at each of the jurors. “Thank you for your time.” He glanced at the clock on the wall. “I promise not to take up too much of it. For the sake of all of us.”
Luke gave a quick glance to his father as he stood. His dad didn’t say anything, didn’t flash any signals. He didn’t have to. His eyes said it all. He believed in Luke, and no one else in all the world could handle what was ahead the way Luke could. The look gave him strength.
With a greater determination than before, Luke faced the jury and stepped forward. “My name is Luke Baxter. Attorney for Wendell Quinn.”
He spoke deliberately, willing his words to come unrushed. Luke motioned to Landsford. “My esteemed colleague has already thanked you for your time. But let me reiterate that.” He looked at each of them, individually. “Your involvement in this case is priceless.” He paused. “Look at each other, at the people on either side of you.”
The jurors did as he asked.
“You are the reason we live in a free country. Justice looks like the group of you. People who love America. People this court believes in.” Luke pointed to the judge. “Long before you were chosen as jurors, Judge Wells could’ve decided this case. That was within her right.” He looked at Landsford. “If this case was as easy as Mr. Landsford makes it seem, then you wouldn’t be here.” He smiled. “The simple truth is we need you.”
Luke watched the jurors relax a little. A few of them leaned back in their seats. They were important. They were needed. Luke felt a surge of hope. So far, so good. “Mr. Landsford told you not to make an emotional decision in this case. I would agree with him. There is nothing emotional or flighty about defending the U.S. Constitution. About defending the First Amendment.” He took a step closer and dropped his voice a notch. “This is one of the most serious things you will ever do. Your decision in this trial will become part of history. A way to defend the groundwork of the founding fathers of this country . . . or a way to tear it down.”
In the corner of his eye he saw Landsford start to stand to object. But whatever protest was on the tip of his tongue, he must’ve changed his mind because he sat back down. Luke smiled at the jury. “So, thank you. Truly.”
He went on to explain that his client, the defendant in this case, was the much-loved principal at Hamilton High. “You might not be familiar with Hamilton High.” Luke needed this part to make an impact on the jury. “Hamilton is a school where things were so bad, the district considered shutting the place down. Shuttling kids across town by bus to avoid the carnage happening year in and year out.”
Luke went on to explain exactly how bad things were. In a few sentences he told the jurors about the murder rate and the gang violence and the low test scores. How Wendell Quinn did what he could. He brought in counselors and created Individualized Education Programs for the most at-risk students. And he tried new curriculum and kindness initiatives.
“But nothing worked.” Luke was pushing his luck here. The history of failed efforts at Hamilton was not truly part of the scope of the case. Religious freedom cases were typically cut and dried. No mention of motive was generally allowed.
But Landsford didn’t object, so Luke continued. “You can understand how Principal Quinn had reached the end of his options. How he was at a loss when it came to helping his students.
“And so Wendell Quinn started a voluntary program called Raise the Bar.” Luke smiled at the jurors again. “What a great idea, right? Take these students who were failing at every level and raise the bar. Something you or I might do to help high school kids.”
A few of the jurors nodded.
“Only instead of kind words or special academic considerations, the club involved reading the Bible and praying.” Luke didn’t want to spend much time on the fact. This was Wendell’s alleged crime, after all. “And wouldn’t you know it . . . Principal Quinn’s program worked.” Luke walked back to his table. “I have a folder here with all the ways the Raise the Bar club has helped the students at Hamilton High.” He opened the folder. “For instance—”
“Objection.” Landsford was on his feet. His smile remained, but his tone was ice cold. “Your Honor, Mr. Baxter knows better than to present evidence during his opening statement. We all have things to do, places to be. Mr. Baxter is merely dragging out the inevitable.”