AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- The Texas judge presiding over the case against Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, refused Saturday to guarantee DeLay an early January trial.
DeLay hopes to put the Texas money laundering charge behind him before the House of Representatives starts its new term in late January. He was forced to step aside as majority leader when he was indicted.
In an e-mail, Judge Pat Priest said he would not decide on a January trial until an appeals court rules on reinstating a lesser charge he threw out. The judge also canceled a Dec. 27 pre-trial hearing, the Austin American-Statesman reported.
Priest said holding another trial later on the other charge would not be the best use of the court's time.
DeLay's lawyer, Dick DeGuerin said he "strongly" disagreed with the ruling.
"There are two or three trials, so what?" said DeGuerin.
Priest's decision could postpone trial for months, depending on how quickly the appeals court acts. DeGuerin said he plans to ask the appeals court to grant DeLay a separate trial on the money laundering charge.
