The new defense team consists of Shawn Chapman, a former attorney for O.J. Simpson, and Tony Serra, a somewhat controversial attorney from San Francisco. Trial pushed back to January 8, 2001. Hearst, angry about being forced to testify and having her credibility attacked, gives an interview in Talk magazine in violation of the gag order. Ideman says he has no jurisdiction over Patricia Hearst. Rather than punish her, he says he has no choice but to lift the gag order entirely.
Defense remains somewhat reluctant to discuss the case.
Ideman declines to double Sara's bail or find her in contempt, but warns her that activity of the defense committee on her website may be hurting her case. It is not clear whether this refers to the criminal case or the civil case which her alleged victims from 1975 have filed. The broad scope of the trial is causing preparations to take a long time. Judge Ideman is reported to have been adamant that the trial start without further delay. The matter will be resolved at a hearing on December 11.