John Edwards Trial: Judge Considering Whether To Delay Start Date

GREENSBORO, N.C. — The federal judge set to preside over the upcoming trial of John Edwards met behind closed doors Friday with a federal prosecutor and a lawyer for the two-time Democratic presidential candidate.

Edwards is seeking to delay the scheduled Jan. 30 start date for his trial on campaign finance charges, citing a medical condition that has not been publicly disclosed.

It is not clear what issues were discussed Friday in the judge's chambers. Edwards' lawyer declined to comment when leaving the courthouse.

The start date of the trial was moved back once after Edwards said he needed more time to prepare his defense and attend his daughter's wedding.

Edwards appeared healthy at a pretrial hearing last month.

Another hearing is scheduled for Jan. 13.

Earlier on HuffPost:

Comments

[matt50]

11:14 AM on 01/10/2012

As Americans, we were right on the money not picking this man for the highest office in the land. Can't imagine how much worst off we would have been if he was elected. Just another smooth talker. Isn't he a Dem., aren't they for the people?

[TeeLolly]

11:46 AM on 01/10/2012

He wouldn't have been elected. The Republicans would have found out about the mistress and the "love child"--after all, the Enquirer found out about the whole thing--and our country (or what was left of it) would be reeling under the erratic dictates of McCain-Palin.

[mrsm00the]

10:49 AM on 01/10/2012

The mystery illness had been diagnosed as He's-Guilty-itis.

[Thumbody]

11:22 AM on 01/10/2012

Scared $hitless!

[americawasgreatonce]

10:24 AM on 01/10/2012

His only sickness is that he suffers from a lack of personality and morals.

[SamEasy]

10:20 AM on 01/10/2012

If I was as pretty as him, I would be trying to delay my trip to jail too.

[Sandi Goldsmith]

10:13 AM on 01/10/2012

Unless Edwards and his physician certify what this mystery illness is, there is no proven reason why he should not go to trial.

[Thumbody]

11:23 AM on 01/10/2012

Money buys justice or lack of it.

[TeeLolly]

11:56 AM on 01/10/2012

The judge may have been told what it is. There are probably a number of medical conditions that could be hard on Edwards' kids if the condition were disclosed, since everyone in the world would know ... (HIV comes to mind, but the disclosure of anything that is potentially hereditary or incurable could make their lives difficult since there would be no way to shield them.)

[stsimonskp]

08:37 AM on 01/10/2012

Does anyone have an update on Edward's daily life? Does he still see "that woman"? Does he work at all?

[YLS2007]

08:25 AM on 01/10/2012

A court appointed exam by an independent medical doctor would probably provide an instant cure. Being a trial lawyer, Edwards clearly knows exactly what he's doing. What a sad legacy he's leaving.

[Kevin Rayburn]

01:02 AM on 01/10/2012

hey john your not constipated...your scared sh**less. now that you have a diagnosis get on with it already.

[Ariel Finn]

12:18 AM on 01/10/2012

John Edwards still would have made a great VP to President Kerry!

[americawasgreatonce]

10:25 AM on 01/10/2012

Sarcasm... I hope

[Thumbody]

11:24 AM on 01/10/2012

On Pluto or Mars take your pick.

[whyputaname]

10:44 PM on 01/09/2012

And here I thought we were going to have a Pretty Face in the Whitehouse for once......LOL

[bessielil]

10:15 PM on 01/09/2012

Are we to assume that no trials are held whenever someone is undergoing medical testing that is not germane to the case? One of these days he will take full responsibility for his actions......but he's surely not at that place yet. "Not [a trial] tonight; I've got a headache."

[whenslydale]

08:56 PM on 01/09/2012

Too bad about Edwards, during the democratic primaries 3 years ago his platform was,
"you don't change anything until you get big corporate money and lobbyists out of government".

The first candidate to bite the hand that feeds them and he had the balls to run on that.

Too bad about the other stuff....life gets in the way

[Thumbody]

11:25 AM on 01/10/2012

And he was the 1% that benefitted from both.

[Deborah Paley]

08:51 PM on 01/09/2012

Big case of the yips.

[dsa1115]

08:37 PM on 01/09/2012

Edwards is a professional con artist. I don't believe this boloney about an illness. It's a stall tactic meant to foster sympathy and buy time IMO.

[TeeLolly]

12:02 PM on 01/10/2012

You could be right. Then again, the illness could have been disclosed to the judge (the article says it wasn't "publicly" disclosed), and they may be keeping it secret to protect Edwards' kids--as soon as whatever it is has been disclosed, the entire world will know, and it could be something a parent wouldn't tell his kids right away.

[ConservativeChampion]

07:38 PM on 01/09/2012

I am so happy that it is likely Edwards goes to the place without $500 haircuts for a LONG TIME.

[isadora]

07:54 PM on 01/09/2012

You are a champion hater. Do you hate this man because of his anti-poverty work?

[Cuyahoga]

09:30 PM on 01/09/2012

Wow Isadora - harsh response to ConservativeChampion. It's become too easy to sling the word "hater" around.

BTW I'm a liberal and the very first time I ever saw John Edwards w/ Elizabeth by his side, I said "He's a player." I've a great success rate in picking out players.

[Thumbody]

11:27 AM on 01/10/2012

Typical left response defend anybody regardless of the actions or crime.