Roger Clemens is scheduled for arraignment Aug. 30 in the ceremonial courtroom of Washington's federal district courthouse, a judge announced this morning.
The ceremonial courtroom is the largest hearing room in the E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse in downtown Washington. The hearing location suggests the court is expecting a large crowd.
The room, which can hold more than 200 visitors, is typically reserved for large-scale cases with multiple defendants, for en banc hearings in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and for ceremonies, including investitures.
Judge Reggie Walton, who was randomly assigned the Clemens case, set arraignment for 2 p.m. Walton earlier this week said it is his hope that Clemens will stand trial by spring 2011.
Clemens was indicted last week on charges of lying to Congress about steroid use. He denied the allegations publicly in a message posted on his Twitter account.
Don't expect any further public comment from Clemens. Walton on Monday issued a gag order, saying he does not want to harm the court's ability to pick an unbiased jury.
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