District Court Denies Five KPMG Tax Shelter Defendants' Motion for Continuance

Following up on this morning's post:  federal district judge Lewis A. Kaplan has denied the five KPMG tax shelter defendants' motion for a continuance of the trial scheduled to begin on October 16, 2007. United States v. Stein, No. 1-05-cr-0888 (S.D.N.Y. 8/3/07):

[T]he Court understands that, from defendants’ perspective, there probably never will be a perfect time at which to try this case. But defendants are entitled only “to a fair trial, not a perfect one.” Having considered all of the circumstances in light of the Court’s experience with this case for nearly two years, the Court has concluded that the proper balance between the public interest in getting on with this matter and the defendants’ rights would be struck best by proceeding as scheduled.

Judge Kaplan also denied the government's motion to sever defendant Greenberg from defendants Larson, Makov, Pfaff and Ruble and to try defendant Greenberg first.  (Hat Tip:  Jack Townsend.)