Chicago Public Radio
A federal judge says the trial of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich will take place in early June as planned. Defense attorneys wanted a five-month delay, in part because of a pending U.S. Supreme Court decision.
The Supreme Court is expected to rule this summer on what's known as the "honest services" statute, which figures into part of the prosecution's case against Blagojevich. His attorneys want the trial delayed until well after that decision comes down. But Judge James Zagel denied the request, noting the specific charges won't come up until late in the trial - presumably after the Supreme Court has ruled.
Blagojevich lawyer Sheldon Sorosky says the defense wanted time before the trial starts to review the Supreme Court's decision, and also to sift through all the documents provided by the prosecution.
SOROSKY: Judge Zagel unfortunately denied our motion, but he's a good judge, a smart judge and we will do the absolute best we can.
The trial is scheduled to start June 3rd. Sorosky says Blagoejevich, who's taken his claims of innocence to a reality TV show, plans to testify.
The Supreme Court is expected to rule this summer on what's known as the "honest services" statute, which figures into part of the prosecution's case against Blagojevich. His attorneys want the trial delayed until well after that decision comes down. But Judge James Zagel denied the request, noting the specific charges won't come up until late in the trial - presumably after the Supreme Court has ruled.
Blagojevich lawyer Sheldon Sorosky says the defense wanted time before the trial starts to review the Supreme Court's decision, and also to sift through all the documents provided by the prosecution.
SOROSKY: Judge Zagel unfortunately denied our motion, but he's a good judge, a smart judge and we will do the absolute best we can.
The trial is scheduled to start June 3rd. Sorosky says Blagoejevich, who's taken his claims of innocence to a reality TV show, plans to testify.
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