Sensing a need to undermine Dr. McFiece’s credibility, Roma requested a sidebar. As the lawyers approached the bench, the jury strained to hear the hushed exchange. Roma argued that the data was incomplete, failing to account for security clearance requirements. Juniper countered that the positions in question often did not require such clearances, and that the data was comprehensive and relevant.

Judge Donahue, his expression thoughtful, allowed the testimony to stand but advised the jury to consider these points when evaluating its weight. The ruling felt like a small victory for the plaintiffs, but the battle was far from over.

As Linda Roberts, a former human resources manager, took the stand, all eyes rose from the gallery. Her testimony about directives to favor certain candidates based on non-meritorious factors sent a ripple of unease through the jury. In the back corner of the box, a woman in a dark blazer shifted, her arms folding tight across her chest. The emails and memos she provided, projected onto the screens by Sophia, anchored her testimony to the screen in black and white.