URBANA, Ill. (WAND) - The federal trials for Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons and Illinois State Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) have been postponed until November, with their rescheduled pretrial conferences now landing on Election Day.
On Aug. 19, 2026, Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long granted the defendants' motions to continue, vacating the previously scheduled Aug. 24 pretrial conferences and Sept. 22 jury trials.
Aaron and Carol both entered a plea of not guilty back in July after a federal grand jury indicted them on fraud and obstruction-related charges.
Under the new court schedule, the couple's pretrial conferences will take place via Zoom on Nov. 3, 2026—Election Day. Aaron Ammons' conference is set for 10 a.m., followed by Carol Ammons' conference at 10:15 a.m.
The jury trials for both defendants are now scheduled to begin on Nov. 17, 2026, at 9 a.m. before Judge Colin S. Bruce in Urbana.
Judge Long also noted that failing to grant the extensions would deny defense attorneys the reasonable time necessary to effectively prepare for trial. He ruled that the need for preparation outweighs the public’s and defendants' interest in a speedy trial.
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