PITTSBURGH -- Though a federal judge has already ordered jury duty notices to be sent, attorneys for Dr. Cyril Wecht want to delay Wecht's retrial on a fraud indictment so they can handle cases for other clients and challenge the charges.
U.S. District Judge Arthur Schwab ordered court officials to issue summonses to 400 men and women for jury selection in Wecht's second trial.
The first jury deadlocked on Tuesday and a mistrial was declared
After the new jurors are screened for hardship and other issues, jury selection will begin in May. The trial is set for May 27.
Wecht faces 41 fraud and theft charges for allegedly using his former Allegheny County coroner's staff to benefit his lucrative private practice.
Defense attorneys plan to ask the court to dismiss the charges and to file motions challenging much of the evidence against Wecht. They say those things can't be decided in time for May 27.
Previous Stories: - April 9, 2008: 'Bizarre Ending:' Wecht, Excused Juror Speak Out After Mistrial
- April 8, 2008: Wecht Judge Denies Defense Request For Mistrial
- April 7, 2008: Wecht Jury Quits Early; Judge Writes About Excused Juror
- April 3, 2008: Prosecution's Response To Wecht Defense Motion To Undo Judge Schwab's Removal Of Juror
- April 2, 2008: Juror Excused In Cyril Wecht Trial; Defense Not Happy
- March 17, 2008: Wecht Attorney: Prosecution Has 'Molehill Of A Case'
- March 11, 2008: Defense Rests Without Calling Witnesses In Wecht Trial
- March 10, 2008: Ex-Carlow U President Denies Cadaver For Lab Space Agreement With Wecht
- March 5, 2008: Wecht Team Defends Bodies For Lab Space Claim
- March 3, 2008: Bodies For Barter? Wecht Testimony Shifts To Cadavers
- February 26, 2008: Wecht Defense Says Allegations Against Him Add Up To 'Crumbs'
- February 25, 2008: Ex-Wecht Secretary Testifies About Fake Invoices
- February 19, 2008: Fraudulent Activity Expert Takes Stand In Wecht Case
- February 14, 2008: Questioning Turns Political In Pittsburgh Wecht Trial
- February 13, 2008: Power Outage Closes Pittsburgh Courthouse, Postpones Wecht Trial Again
- February 11, 2008: Former Secretary Latest To Take Stand In Wecht Trial
- February 8, 2008: Cyril Wecht Trial: Bob Mayo Highlights Blog Entries
- February 7, 2008: JFK Assassination Video Played During Pittsburgh Wecht Trial
- February 7, 2008: Wecht To Autopsy Exhumed Body On Off Day In Fraud Trial
- February 6, 2008: Wecht Case Goes Hollywood With Michael Jackson Letters
- February 5, 2008: Brains, Spinal Cord Pictures Used In Wecht Trial Testimony
- February 4, 2008: Wecht Trial Continues: Witness Calls Him Rude, Arrogant
- January 31, 2008: Wecht Trial Bounces Along With Tennis Ball Testimony
- January 30, 2008: Wecht Trial Continues: Witness Says Errands Came First
- January 29, 2008: Wecht Defense Attacks Cadaver-For-Lab Space Allegations
- January 28, 2008: Wecht Trial: 'Thought He'd Get Away With It,' Prosecution Says
- January 11, 2008: Jury Selection Begins In Famed Pittsburgh Pathologist Wecht's Trial
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Fake Travel Invoices 
