Becker Trial Date Changed; Public Defender Gets Co-Counsel

Erika Towne

1 year ago

A judge has agreed to schedule the Anthony Becker trial for July 29 and allow the public defender to add co-counsel to his team.

The trial of Council Member Anthony Becker will now take place at the end of July. During a brief motions hearing in San Jose on March 29, the presiding judge agreed to push the start of the trial back to July 29.

Judge Elizabeth C. Peterson met with Deputy District Attorney Jason Malinsky and Chris Montoya of the Public Defender’s Office in her chambers prior to starting her afternoon court session.

Following the closed doors hearing, Judge Peterson took the bench and agreed to vacate the April 22 court date. She rescheduled the trial to start on July 29 at 8:31 a.m. The judge stated firmly that this would be the last continuance granted in the matter.

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Judge Peterson also agreed to allow Montoya to add co-counsel to Becker’s team. Grant Fondo of the international law firm Goodwin Proctor was approved as co-counsel in the Becker case. Fondo is a partner in the law firm’s Silicon Valley office.

The judge reminded Becker that he must be present at the trial once it begins in July. The judge set the deadline of July 1 to file motions and said all motions will be heard by July 15. Both sides have until July 24 to submit their witness lists.

Last May, Becker pleaded “not guilty” to charges of perjury and violation of duty. The District Attorney’s office has accused Becker of leaking the confidential Civil Grand Jury report “Unsportsmanlike Conduct” prior to its official release.

The report accused members of the Santa Clara City Council of creating a voting bloc that consistently voted in favor of the 49ers. Becker was among the council members accused of participating in that voting bloc.

Once it gets started, Becker’s trial is expected to last three to four weeks.