vidalia &8212; Judge Sharon Marchman met with representatives of both sides of the Ferriday voter fraud trial Thursday to take care of administrative matters and set a date for the next hearing.

The meeting was closed to the public. Marchman said afterward that a preliminary examination would be held on Jan. 20 at 9:30 a.m.

At that time, the prosecution will present evidence in an effort to determine probable cause.

That responsibility will rest with Butch Wilson, the Louisiana Attorney General&8217;s new lead prosecutor in the case.

Wilson is the fourth attorney from the attorney general&8217;s office to argue the case.

Seventh District Attorney John Johnson recused his office from the case last spring.

Marchman was appointed to the case by the Louisiana Supreme Court after both Seventh District judges, Leo Boothe and Kathy Johnson, recused themselves.

After the examination, issues relating to jury pools and judicial setting will need to be tackled before the case goes to trial.

Five defendants &8212; Justin Conner, James Skipper, Willie Robinson, Emerson Slain and Henrietta Williams &8212; stand accused of criminal conspiracy, filing or maintaining false public records and principal to forgery relating to absentee ballots surrounding the 2004 municipal elections in Ferriday.

Two other people, Eloise Polk and Shirley R. Mason, are under investigation &8212; but have not been charged at this point &8212; for tampering with a different Ferriday resident&8217;s absentee ballot.