Judge to rule on bid to delay priests’ trial

PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Inquirer

By John P. Martin
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

A judge is expected to rule this morning on a request to delay the landmark trial of Philadelphia priests accused of conspiring to cover up clergy sex abuse.

Opening statements had been scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. in a third-floor courtroom at the city’s Criminal Justice Center. But as of 10:15 a.m., the parties remained behind closed doors.

Lawyers for Msgr. William J. Lynn and the Rev. James J. Brennan said that publicity over last week’s unexpected guilty plea by a third defendant might have tainted the jury.

As of 10:15 a.m., the parties remained behind closed doors.

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