Bitcoin Magazine
Samourai Wallet Developers Make Joint Appearance in Court During Fourth Pre-Trial Hearing
Today marked the fourth pre-trial hearing in the U.S. case against the developers of Samourai Wallet, held in the Southern District of New York.
This hearing was significant as it marked the second occasion that developers Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill appeared together publicly, with their prior joint appearance occurring during the previous status conference on September 17, 2024.
Today’s session was notably brief and less detailed compared to the previous pre-trial hearings that have taken place.
Schedule for Pre-Trial Motions
During the hearing, both the prosecution and the defense agreed on a schedule for pre-trial motions, which is set as follows:
- May 9, 2025 — Initial motion filing
- June 6, 2025 — Response from the prosecution to the initial motion
- June 20, 2025 — Defense replies to the prosecution’s response
Disclosure of Expert Witnesses
The prosecution has been instructed to submit its expert witness disclosure by July 15, 2025. The defense is expected to provide their disclosure by August 8, 2025.
Furthermore, additional expert disclosures may be permitted during the next pre-trial hearing scheduled for July 16, 2025, at 10:00 AM EST.
Hill’s Residence in Lisbon
During the proceedings, Hill’s attorney inquired with Judge Richard Berman—who is presiding over the case—about the possibility of exempting Hill from attending future pre-trial hearings. The request was made due to Hill’s residence with his wife in Lisbon, Portugal, making travel to New York City quite costly.
His attorney mentioned that the pre-trial services department was “supportive” of this exemption.
Judge Berman expressed that he did not foresee any issues with granting this request.
Rodriguez Shares Appreciation
Post-hearing, Rodriguez expressed his gratitude to the supporters who have contributed to the Peer-to-Peer Rights Fund, which assists in financing the legal defense for the developers.
For those interested, contributions to the fund are still welcome.
Date Set for Trial Commencement
The trial is anticipated to commence on November 3, 2025.
This article Samourai Wallet Developers Make Joint Appearance in Court During Fourth Pre-Trial Hearing originally appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and was authored by Frank Corva.
