The judge overseeing the case of Tucson shooting suspect Jared Loughner ordered yesterday that his trial is to take place by September 20.
So far, Loughner's been charged with two counts of attempted murder, and one count of attempted assassination for the January 8, shooting rampage outside of a Tucson Safeway grocery store that left six dead, including federal Judge John Roll, and 13 others wounded, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
Loughner will likely be indicted in federal court on several other
charges stemming from the attack, including two federal murder counts
for the deaths of Roll and Giffords aide Gabriel Zimmerman.
Then it's the state's turn. Loughner is facing a slew of other state
charges that have not yet been
filed. Federal statute requires the suspension of all state or local
prosecutions while the federal case is pending, so state charges will be
put on hold until the feds finish their case, the U.S. Attorney's
Office and the Pima County Attorney's Office announced earlier this
month.
Federal Judge Larry Burns noted in his order that new federal charges
are expected to be filed against Loughner before his next court hearing,
which is scheduled for March 9.
Burns told attorneys that during the March 9, hearing he would also schedule future hearings and the set a date for trial.