The former head of the International Monetary Fund Dominique Strauss-Kahn is expected to plead not guilty to sex charges when he appears before a New York court later.
Once the 62 year old enters his plea at the city's Supreme Court the case will start its pre-trial phase, when lawyers will argue over what evidence is and is not admissible. That process can last up to three months.
Legal experts say jury selection could pose a problem, as the court has to find jurors who are unfamiliar with a case that has had blanket media coverage.