Another day and another delay in the perjury trial of Santa Clara City Council Member Anthony Becker. On Monday, Aug. 12, Becker appeared in Department 24 at the Santa Clara County Hall of Justice, prepared to have his case assigned to a judge.
It went as planned, and both sides were told that the jury trial would be assigned to the Honorable Panteha E. Saban in Department 40 on Aug. 14 at 9 a.m.
This morning, the judge met with both sides in chambers and discussed the current situation. She told the attorneys she was also assigned a trial on a “time not waived” issue, meaning that case took precedence.
As a result, Judge Saban kicked the trial back to Department 24 on Sept. 9 at 8:31 a.m., where it will be reassigned to another judge.
Both parties contested the delay on the record. Deputy District Attorney Jason Malinsky said he had pushed to get the item placed on an earlier court assignment calendar, considering that both sides were “ready to proceed today” and that there was “no reason to delay.”
Deputy Public Defender Chris Montoya said that if he were not in trial, his office would place him on another trial set to start on Aug. 19. Because the second case involved a potential life in prison sentence, Montoya would be unavailable to appear in court to argue matters in the Becker case.
Judge Saban took both things into consideration. She told Montoya that Becker also had co-counsel who could appear in his stead if need be. She also told Montoya that the judge in the other case might be willing to give him leave to attend other hearings if necessary.
Following her comments, she stuck to her Sept. 9 date.
She said she hoped that both sides would use the extra time to work toward a “resolution,” ostensibly pushing for a settlement agreement. Judge Saban hoped that “those discussions are had between the parties.”
Related Posts:
Judge Denies Series Of Defense Motions As Start Of Becker Perjury Trial Nears
Becker Trial Delayed For The Final Time
Civil Grand Jury Communications Remain Off Limits In Becker Trial
Another Court Hearing In Becker Case Ends With Little Resolution
