A judge appointed a third-party lawyer on Friday to make arguments to the court against dropping New York City Mayor Eric Adams’s corruption charges, a move that will prolong the end of the case until at least mid-March.

Judge Dale Ho, a Biden appointee, tapped former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement to challenge the Department of Justice‘s controversial decision to toss out Adams’s charges. Ho set a deadline of March 7 for Clement, the DOJ, and Adams to submit their respective arguments to the court about the case’s dismissal. The judge said he would hear oral arguments on the matter “if necessary” on March 14.

Recommended Stories

Making sense of the Eric Adams flap

Independent attorney recommends judge dismiss Eric Adams case with prejudice

Eric Adams indictment alleges decade of corruption and bribery by foreign nationals