Judge in Edwards Case to Reconsider Trial Motions The judge overseeing the John Edwards case will reconsider a pair of defense motions on whether the government tried the case in the right venue and whether prosecutors gathered evidence improperly. A jury acquitted the former Democratic presidential candidate last week on one felony count of receiving illegal campaign contributions, but deadlocked on the remaining five counts. Federal officials are weighing whether to retry Edwards on the five unresolved charges. U.S. District Court Judge Catherine C. Eagles has ordered new briefs on whether two of the charges should be tried in a different federal court and whether prosecutors played an improper role in a civil lawsuit over ownership of a sex tape of Edwards and his mistress. If the judge sides with the defense, two of the charges would have to either be dismissed or tried elsewhere.