“Yes. Sorry.” Andy blinked a few times, like he was trying to see through his tears. He turned to the jury once more. “I seen the difference this club has made in my daughter. God is . . . He’s her best friend now. She used to be angry and now . . . she has peace. The only problem in her life today is . . . well, it’s me.”
“And have you changed your mind about the importance of a club like Raise the Bar, Mr. Nelson?” Luke took a step forward, his voice quiet.
“I’ve changed my mind about a lot of things regarding God. When I filed the lawsuit . . . I was so angry at God and Cami and Principal Quinn, I went and got a tattoo on my arm. It said ‘NO GOD.’ Because that’s how I felt . . . like there was no God. Like He wasn’t real.”
Luke walked back to his table, giving the jurors plenty of time to let Andy’s testimony hit them. On his way he noticed that Cami was crying. Jordy put his arm around her as they listened. Luke faced Andy once more. “And now, Mr. Nelson? How do you feel now?”
“I tried to kill myself before the trial started. But God . . . He wouldn’t let me die. So I went back to the tattoo parlor.” Andy sniffed, fresh tears filling his eyes. He struggled to pull up the sleeve of his shirt. And there on his bicep was the tattoo he’d mentioned a minute ago. But something was different. He’d had a few letters added.
“See?” Andy held up his arm. “Now it says ‘KNOW GOD.’ Because He alone can help us. Me and Cami. The students at Hamilton High.” He looked at Wendell. “And you, Principal Quinn. We all need God. I believe that now.”
Judge Wells sat back in her chair and grabbed on to the arms. Like she’d never seen anything so unexpected in all her days on the bench. Landsford, too. If he could’ve tunneled his way out of the courtroom with his pen, he would’ve.
At least by the expression on his face.
Luke nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Nelson. No further questions. The defense rests, Your Honor.”
“No further questions.” Landsford didn’t bother to look up from his notes.
“Very well. The jury will now hear closing arguments.”
Landsford went first. He was hardly compelling. His client had turned against him. Of all the cases the man would win against Christians, this no longer appeared to be one of them.
He was going into a halfhearted spiel about precedent cases and the prior determination that a school official absolutely could not lead a Bible study on campus—voluntary or not—when Andy Nelson walked across the courtroom to his daughter.
Cami stayed on her side of the railing, but the two hugged like their lives depended on it. Luke couldn’t have written a better script for how these final moments might play out. Most of the jurors were crying, dabbing at their eyes.
“Order.” Judge Wells stood, beyond frustrated. “Mr. Nelson, your attorney is making his closing arguments. The least you could do is sit and listen.”
Only then did Andy seem to realize how rude he’d been. Luke covered his smile with his hand as Andy apologized and returned to his seat.
“The jury will not allow that scene between Mr. Nelson and his daughter to influence its decision.” The judge looked at the jury. “Is that understood?”
Each of them nodded. As if anything could erase the touching moment they’d just witnessed. Landsford finished his closing statement and sat down.
It was Luke’s turn. Anything he could say at this point would be superfluous. Rosie Carter, Andy Nelson, the hug the man had shared with his daughter. All of that had said more than Luke could ever say.
But still he had to drive home one final point. The reason the jury could feel good about the legalities of deciding in favor of Wendell Quinn. The point Tommy had first brought up after the musical that night. Luke wasn’t sure if it would help, but it couldn’t hurt. Not at this point. And both Wendell and Tommy were right—whether it was a proven defense in a case like this or not.
Wendell really was just doing his job.
Luke stepped in front of the jury and looked at them. Each one of them. “First, thank you again for your time. I told you it would take a while, and it has. But freedom is always worth the time. Always.”
Luke came closer to the jury box. These were no longer Landsford’s friends. They were Luke’s. “I want you to take two truths with you into that deliberation room. Two truths that will make your decision that much easier.” Luke paused. “First, there was nothing in the school district handbook prohibiting Principal Quinn from leading a voluntary after-school Bible study. You heard James Black testify to that on the first day of trial.”
Luke smiled at the jurors and then he turned and looked at Wendell. Looked at him long enough that every one of the jurors could do nothing but follow his lead. After several seconds, Luke turned his attention back to the jury. “Second, Wendell Quinn started the Raise the Bar club for one reason.” Luke nodded. “Yes, because it was his job.”
One more trip back to his table and Luke picked up a piece of paper. “When Wendell Quinn signed his contract as principal of Hamilton High he promised this: To establish a schoolwide vision of commitment to high standards . . . and ensure the success of all students.”
Luke set the piece of paper down and smiled at the jury. “Friends, when a man like Wendell Quinn does whatever it takes . . . when he risks his reputation and his job to carry out the duties of his position on behalf of his students, we don’t find him guilty. We drop the charges and we give him a standing ovation.”
The sentiment hung in the air for a long moment, and then Luke thanked the jury one more time and returned to his seat.
He’d done all he could. He had prayed and so had his family. Now the decision was in the hands of the jury. And of God Almighty, who had brought them this far.
An hour later it was no surprise to anyone in the room when the jury returned with a verdict of not guilty. After the foreman read their decision he did something Luke had never seen, not in all his years of practicing law.
The man began to clap.
His fellow jurors joined in and all of them rose to their feet. So that Wendell Quinn finally had what he deserved.
A standing ovation.
23
The jury’s verdict, their applause, was still fresh in Wendell’s heart when Judge Wells lit into him.
“Mr. Quinn, you need to know that the verdict today does not mean your troubles are over.”
Next to him, Luke whispered. “Just hear her out. You’re fine, Wendell.”
He kept his eyes on the judge, respectful. Listening. “Yes, Your Honor.”
“What I’m saying is anyone, anytime could bring a lawsuit much like the one Mr. Nelson brought. As long as you run your Bible study club, you’re placing yourself and your school in jeopardy.”
Wendell nodded.
“Ultimately, the landscape of religious freedom is changing in this nation.” Judge Wells raised her brow. “A person has to be either very brave or very foolish to continue such a club.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Wendell smiled. “I’m probably a little of both.”
Wendell heard Luke chuckle quietly. “Thank you, Judge Wells. If Your Honor is finished, my client has places to be.”
She gave Luke a wary look. “Very well.” She waved her hand like she’d done before. “I expect I’ll see you again. But for now, you may go. Both of you.”
Wendell and Luke stood at the same time and as Luke moved to shake his hand, Wendell went straight for the hug. “I had the best lawyer in the business.”
“I couldn’t have planned half of what happened here.” Luke patted Wendell on the back. “God alone gave us this victory. Never should’ve happened.”
Alicia walked up to them. She hugged Wendell and then shook Luke’s hand. “Thank you. Wendell was right about you.”
“He tell you I cry easy at sad videos?” Luke grinned at Wendell and shook his head. “Twice, in this case.”
“No.” Alicia’s eyes were soft. Full of gratitude. “He told me there was no lawyer better. That jury loved you.”