Lawyers for fired Ohio State band director to remain on case

COLUMBUS (AP) — Attorneys for fired Ohio State marching band director Jonathan Waters said today they will continue to defend him until it’s determined whether his federal case will go to trial.

Atty. David Axelrod told a judge he’s delaying the request to withdraw as Waters’ counsel as a result of university lawyers’ objections. Waters’ attorneys say he can’t meet his financial obligations in this case, and in a separate defamation case against the university.

Waters was terminated in July 2014 after a university investigation determined he had ignored a “sexualized culture” of questionable rituals, suggestive games and other traditions inside the storied band. Waters has argued the report distorted the situation.

U.S. District Court Judge James Graham complimented Axelrod’s decision during today’s hearing, which he attended via a live video feed from a Florida courthouse.

“A lot of time and effort has been devoted to this case, on both sides — and by the court, for that matter — and it certainly would be in the interest of justice to complete the last final tasks headed into summary judgment,” he said.

A trial is scheduled in the case this summer.