More than a month and a half after his discovery hearing, a trial date still has not been set for Circuit Clerk M.L. “Binkey” Vines.

No trial date was set at the Jan. 12 discovery hearing because of scheduling conflicts, according to a statement released at the time by the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, which is prosecuting the case.

Vines was indicted by a grand jury in September on 13 counts of embezzlement, based on fiscal year 2002-2003 audit findings. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment.

Judge Joe Webster from Coahoma County is presiding over the hearings. Webster confirmed a trial date had not been set but declined to give details.

Both circuit judges recused themselves from Vines’ case because of potential conflicts of interest.

Vines’ discovery hearing, intended to make sure both sides have complied with research requirements, was moved from December to January.

A trial date was expected to be set at the discovery hearing.

If convicted of embezzlement, a felony, Vines would have to leave his office.

Vines has qualified to run for circuit clerk again in the November county elections.

One of Vines’ opponents in the race, City Clerk Donnie Holloway said he didn’t think the trial, or lack of one, would affect the race.

“I don’t see any factor in that,” Holloway said. “We won’t know until the votes are counted.”

Another candidate for circuit clerk, Wilbur Johnson, said he was a little surprised a trial date had not been set.

“I have nothing against (Vines),” Johnson said. “I don’t know what happened, but I thought that maybe the trial would have been held prior to this particular time. I think it is something that needs to be considered that there’s a trial pending.”

Johnson said although people should keep in mind that anyone accused is innocent until proven guilty, he personally would have wanted to get a trial finished before an election.

“With a case of that nature hanging out there, if it was me, I would want to have it out of the way so the public would not be influenced one way or the other,” Johnson said. “If it’s true, whatever needs to happen needs to happen. If not, he needs to be cleared.”

Another of Vines’ opponents in the race, Eddie Walker, an investigator for the district attorney’s office, would not comment on how a trial, or lack of one, might affect the race.