“Order,” Judge Donahue called out, though his eyes sparkled with barely contained satisfaction. “Please allow the jury to complete their verdict.”

The gallery settled like a pot barely contained at simmer, bodies perched on the edges of seats, tabs forgotten in trembling hands. The students leaned forward in perfect synchronization, their collective anticipation building like static electricity before a storm.

“On the matter of remedy,” the foreperson continued, her voice steady despite the crackling energy in the room, “we find that the affected class is entitled to immediate consideration for positions previously denied, with full compensation for lost wages and benefits. Furthermore, we recommend the implementation of transparent hiring protocols as outlined in the plaintiffs’ proposed framework.”