Overview
- U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett set federal jury selection for Oct. 5 and opening statements for Oct. 26 after denying a defense push to delay the case to 2027.
- Defense lawyers said they cannot prepare for the federal case while trying the state murder case that starts June 8 and requires reviewing about 800 federal juror questionnaires.
- Prosecutors opposed moving the trial dates but agreed to adjust the questionnaire process, and the judge compressed that timeline to avoid overlap with the state proceedings.
- The federal case now centers on stalking charges after the judge dismissed a federal murder count in January, removing the death penalty, while both cases still carry potential life sentences.
- The decision narrows options to postpone the state trial and could raise double jeopardy concerns if a federal jury is sworn first in cases that cover the same events.