With defense attorney John Pierce remaining hospitalized and prosecutors refusing to work with his unlicensed associate, a federal judge on Thursday wrestled with how to proceed in two Capitol riot cases thrown into uncertainty.

Pierce’s associate, Ryan Marshall, again turned up as the lone defense attorney at a status conference for defendant Peter Schwartz, despite U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta of the District of Columbia’s request last week to find a licensed lawyer for Thursday’s hearing.