The Rome News-Tribune is reporting this morning that Rome, Georgia District Attorney Leigh Patterson is determined to bring charges once again against comic book retailer Gordon Lee in a new trial 'on the next available misdemeanor trial calendar,' which translates to sometime in early 2008.  The pronouncement from the DA's office comes just a day after Judge Larry Salmon declared a mistrial due to a prosecutorial blunder during the very first day of the long-awaited trial (see 'Mistrial Declared in Gordon Lee Case').

Lead defense attorney Alan Begner (part of the defense team funded by the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund) speculated yesterday that the prosecutors deliberately sabotaged the proceedings 'because we had a jury that looked more defense oriented.'  Whatever the reason for the blunder that caused the mistrial, Lee and the CBLDF are now faced with the expense of preparing for another trial, and more than 3 years after the original incident, the situation remains unresolved and in spite of the legal efforts of the CBLDF, which are approaching six figures in cost, Lee has still not been cleared of the misdemeanor charges that could result in up to a year in jail.