By msnbc.com staff and wires, msnbc.com
Pat Little / Reuters
Jerry Sandusky arrives for a hearing at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa., on April 5.
The trial of Jerry Sandusky will begin next week in Pennsylvania as scheduled, the presiding judge ruled Wednesday, denying a request for a delay by lawyers for the former Penn State assistant football coach.
"The reality of our system of justice is that no date for trial is ever perfect, but some dates are better than others," wrote Judge John Cleland ahead of a pre-trial hearing Wednesday afternoon to take care of any remaining matters.
Sandusky's lawyers and state prosecutors will begin picking jurors from a pool of State College-area residents on Tuesday.
Sandusky is charged with 52 counts of child sexual abuse. The 68-year-old former defensive coordinator for Penn State's famed football program denies the allegations.
Still unresolved are a defense effort to have the charges dismissed and motions by four alleged victims to have their identities protected by court order.
Cleland also issued a decorum order to address issues raised by the widespread public interest the case has generated.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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