The date was set by Senior Judge Barry Feudale of Northumberland County, who will specially preside over the trial.

The state Supreme Court earlier chose Dauphin County as the trial site after Judge Feudale granted a motion by Mr. Eagen to move the trial from Lackawanna County.

The judge cited the saturation media coverage given the case, especially by The Times/Tribune newspapers, as the reason for moving the trial out of Lackawanna County.

Mr. Eagen's attorney, William Costopoulos of Harrisburg, estimates the trial will take two days to select a jury to hear the case. The trial itself is expected to last five days once a 12-person jury and two alternates are seated.

Deputy Attorney General Pat Blessington, who is handling the prosecution, could not be reached today for comment.

The former judge is charged with taking money in return for appointing guardians for estates under his jurisdiction. Some of the estates were looted.

Philip Bosha, a former Scranton insurance executive who Mr. Eagen frequently chose to serve as guardian of estates of elderly and incapacitated persons, is expected to be the government's key witness on the bribery charge.

Mr. Bosha, who is currently serving a 12- to 24-month term on state charges under house arrest, alleges he paid Mr. Eagen $1,850 in bribes to show his appreciation for the former jurist appointing him to the guardianships.

Mr. Eagen maintains Mr. Bosha is lying.

The obstruction charges allege the former judge attempted to undermine the investigation of the county grand jury that eventually indicted him.