Almost a year and a half after Mayer Brown partner and appellate practice founder Stephen Shapiro was gunned down in his home in Chicago, the murder case against his brother-in-law is still winding slowly toward trial.

Following a Tuesday status hearing in John Gately III’s case at the Cook County 2nd Municipal District Courthouse in Skokie, Illinois, Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Andreana Turano said she is “hopeful” that a trial date will be set for sometime in 2020.