For those of you who don't have a copy of the Bill of Rights in your coat pocket like a number of members of Congress, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) is giving you a bit of a civics lesson as he fights a seven count felony indictment against him.

"In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial," is how the Sixth Amendment begins, and that was put to use by Stevens and his legal team on Thursday.

Stevens won a trial date of September 24, as his lawyers urged a judge to finish the case before the November elections.

"I am looking forward to this trial as a way of finally showing the truth - that I'm innocent," Stevens said in a written statement released to reporters.

Stevens also asked to have the trial moved to Alaska, though the judge indicated he was not likely to accept that request.  There will be a hearing on that August 19, giving those of us in Washington something to look forward to over the next few weeks.

For now, fellow GOP Senators seem ready to let Stevens fight it out in court, letting a jury determine his fate both criminally and politically.

Stevens faces five Republicans in a primary election on August 26.  He had been expected to cruise to victory, and honestly, I would be surprised if doesn't win by a lot.

Stevens is charged with not disclosing on his Senate financial forms over $250,000 in gifts from an oil services company executive who ran what's known as VECO.

More indictments in the VECO corruption case seem likely, as investigators have also been focusing for some time on Alaska's sole Congressman, Rep. Don Young, maybe best known for his unapologetic support for the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere."

Like Stevens, Young faces a difficult route back to the Congress this fall, with both a strong primary and general election challenge expected.