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Former Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby’s federal trial is likely headed to the fall.
Mosby’s trial was slated to begin in March, but that date was thrown out last month after her entire defense team withdrew from the case. She is now being represented by the federal public defender, and prosecutors said during a status conference with U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby on Friday morning that a possible trial date in July would not work.
Griggsby said that would push the trial to the fall, but was unable to set a date without first conferring with officials who oversee jury selection.
The former two-term state’s attorney was indicted in January 2022 on federal charges of perjury related to withdrawing money early from her retirement account — citing a COVID-related hardship — and making false claims on a loan application.
Mosby’s lead attorney, A. Scott Bolden, is facing the possibility of criminal contempt charges for his conduct in her case, and said that he could no longer put his full effort into her defense. Three other attorneys from his firm said that posed a conflict of interest for them, while two other attorneys said they were not able to take up a larger role in the case.
Griggsby granted their request to withdraw, and found that Mosby was indigent and appointed the public defender’s office.
Public defender James Wyda said he has not yet received the case file from the former defense team.
“Ms. Mosby is anxious to put this matter behind her as quickly as possible. We’re trying to move promptly for her sake as well as the court,” Wyda said. “In all candor, while we’re working in good faith with prior counsel, we don’t have the file. I’m still operating a little bit in the dark.”
justin.fenton@thebaltimorebanner.com
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Justin Fenton is an investigative reporter for the Baltimore Banner. He previously spent 17 years at the Baltimore Sun, covering the criminal justice system. His book, "We Own This City: A True Story of Crime, Cops and Corruption," was released by Random House in 2021 and became an HBO miniseries.
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