Rep. Jefferson's Trial Delayed

Spectators hoping to snag a seat at next week's trial of Louisiana Rep. William Jefferson (D) on bribery charges are going to have to wait a little longer, as the proceedings have now been delayed following a new appeal from the defense.

Jury selection for the trial had been scheduled to start Monday at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, but Jefferson's lawyers on Wednesday filed an appeal arguing that testimony provided by the lawmaker's aides to a grand jury should have been protected under the Constitution's Speech or Debate clause. A district court judge has already ruled against Jefferson on the matter, so now it will be heard by the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that a decision on that appeal is "probably months away." So if you've already started lining up outside the Alexandria courtroom for a seat, you should probably go home.

Here's the whole history of Jefferson's legal problems.