Defense attorneys for the man accused of shooting nine worshipers at a Charleston, S.C., last June filed notice Thursday asking the judge to forgo a jury trial and instead have only the judge hear the case.
Dylann Roof’s lawyers submitted the legal request in U.S. District Court. They acknowledged federal prosecutors — who have said they will seek the death penalty for the 22-year-old — do not want to waive the jury.
The federal trial for Roof has been scheduled to start Nov. 7.
Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel had announced Tuesday he will begin selecting jurors for the federal trial then. Gergel said more than 1,000 South Carolina residents may be summoned as potential jurors.
Roof has been charged with 33 violations of federal law, including hate crimes for attacking black worshippers at a Bible study at the Emanuel AME Church.
The defendant attended the hearing but did not make a statement. His defense attorneys reiterated that their client was willing to plead guilty if the death penalty were taken off the table.
Federal prosecutors said in May they will seek the death penalty against Roof, mirroring the South Carolina prosecutors’ February decision to seek the death penalty. The state trial is set for January.
South Carolina has not executed anyone since 2011; the federal government has not done so since 2003.
