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Feb. 1 - A jury trial in the Natural Bridge Zoo case is currently set for Feb. 26, though a motion to delay is anticipated.
On Jan. 19, following a two-and-a-half-day hearing in Rockbridge General District Court, Judge Gregory Moon released a decision stating that 61 of the animals seized from the zoo in early December would remain in state custody, while 39 would be returned to the zoo.
Attorneys for zoo owners Karl and Debbie Mogensen submitted an appeal of the ruling on Jan. 26, and argued at a hearing this morning that the trial would need begin within 30 days of that appeal, under state law.
The trial date was scheduled for Feb. 26, anticipated to last four days.
However, Michelle Welch, head of the Animal Law Unit with the attorney general’s office, indicated that she plans to file a motion to continue the trail, saying that other cases in the state have allowed extensions beyond the 30-day window.
Attorneys for the zoo also said that they will be filing a number of motions ahead of the trial, including a motion to suppress the search and seizure warrants from the zoo.
Both sides will have until Feb. 6 to file their motions with the court, and an additional seven days to respond, before a Feb. 14 hearing to rule on pretrial motions.
