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The jury selection in the Peter Mallory trial was expected to begin Monday morning, however due to a sudden illness of defense attorney Ed Garland, Judge Blackmon postponed the jury trials.

John Garland, son of Ed Garland, was present in court on Monday to speak on his father’s behalf. John said his father fell ill on Sunday and requested that the court allow his father time to get over his sickness before proceeding with the trial.

In hopes that Ed Garland would be better the next day, Blackmon rescheduled Monday’s jury trial to Tuesday morning. On Tuesday morning, the elder Garland still was not present in court. John Garland and Mallory stated that in order to have an effective trial, they would rather proceed when Ed Garland would be present.

Mallory took to the stand to confirm the decision of his defense.

“It is important for me to get a fair trial,” Mallory said. “Ed is the expert. I’ve spent 90 percent of my time talking to Ed and only 10 percent talking to John. I need Ed here to get a fair trial.”

Blackmon granted the request once more, but guaranteed that the jury selection must absolutely begin tomorrow morning. Blackmon stated that any accommodations needed will be made for John Garland. Wednesday’s court day is to be a half day, from 9 a.m. until noon.

Mallory, the former owner of TV-33, was arrested in April 2011 after police recovered child pornography on a computer at the TV station, and he was arrested again a month later when police searched his home. He was charged with 60 counts of sexual exploitation of children, three counts of invasion of privacy and one count of tampering with evidence.