Page 78 of In This Moment
“The defense calls one final witness. Andy Nelson, please take the stand.”
A murmur rose from the spectators and even the jurors. Judge Wells rapped her gavel on the bench. “Order. Silence in the courtroom, please.”
The noise settled down and slowly, under the glare of his own attorney, Andy took the stand. He looked shaky, more nervous than the first time he’d been called.
“I’d like to make it clear to the jury”—Luke looked at each of them—“that Andy Nelson is testifying today on behalf of the defense.” He paused. “Although Mr. Nelson brought this case against Principal Quinn, today he will testify on the principal’s behalf.”
Landsford dropped his pen and leaned back in his seat. Clearly he had not expected this.
Luke formed his first question with great care.Help me here, God. He was glad his dad was still there, still praying from the back row. “Mr. Nelson, it’s come to my attention that you’ve gone through some personal changes since filing suit against Wendell Quinn. Is that right?”
“Yes, sir.” Andy wore a long-sleeve white cotton shirt and light blue jeans. He had cut his hair for the occasion, and though he still looked nervous, his eyes were brighter than they’d been all trial.
“Okay, and could you tell the jury about those changes? In your own words?”
Andy’s eyes filled with tears. He looked to the first row of spectators, where Cami and Jordy sat with a small group of Hamilton High students. The man wiped at his eyes and looked at the jury. “I made a mistake when I sued Principal Quinn. There were... personal reasons why I didn’t want my daughter reading the Bible.” He looked at her and his tears came harder. He shook his head and whispered, “I’m sorry, baby. I never meant for this to... I’m sorry.”
Landsford looked like he might object, but instead he only crossed his arms and stared at the table in front of him.
“Mr. Nelson, if you could please stick to the question.” Luke used his most gentle tone. He loved the exchange between Andy and his daughter. But this wasn’t the place for it, and he wanted the jurors to hear the reason Andy had changed his mind.
“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.
