[05/16/02]A request by the prosecution to postpone the trial date of Warren County Court Judge Gerald Hosemann for three weeks was denied Wednesday in Hinds County Circuit Court, Hinds County assistant district attorney Robert Taylor said.

Circuit Judge L. Breland Hilburn did not grant the request to move the trial date to June 17, saying the trial would remain scheduled for May 28, Taylor said.

The prosecution had requested the delay because other cases Taylor had pre-set to try were scheduled during the next criminal term of the other Hinds County district during the week Hilburn chose for the Hosemann trial, Taylor said.

Taylor said other arrangements either the naming of a substitute prosecutor or a postponement of trial dates in the other district would need to be made for the cases he had pre-set. Mississippi’s circuit court District 7, which Hinds County comprises, has two judicial districts, one in Jackson and one in Raymond.

On May 8, Hilburn set May 28 as the date for the aggravated assault trial of Hosemann, 50. The Warren County Court Judge is accused of beating and leaving on property he owns in Hinds County his former court reporter, Juanita “Nita” Johnston, 48.

Hosemann has maintained his innocence, and Johnston has recanted her earlier statement that he assaulted her. She has also said she is in love with Hosemann and has been for a long time.

Hosemann’s attorney, William Kirksey of Jackson, was out of town and could not be contacted.

Missing since Dec. 4, Johnston was found injured Dec. 6 on Hinds County ranch property Hosemann owns. She spent more than a month in Vicksburg and Jackson hospitals.

Despite Johnston’s attempts to have the charge dismissed, a Hinds County grand jury indicted Hosemann. His attorney requested a speedy trial. Hilburn then set the May 28 date, over the prosecution’s objection.

Felony trials are often six months to a year after indictment. The May 28 trial week was to have been vacation time for the court of Hilburn, who had announced plans to retire effective May 31. The next criminal term for Hilburn’s court was to have started in July.

Hosemann has been Warren County Court judge since 1986, and he has filed qualifying papers to seek re-election in November.