The U.S. District Court in Richmond, Virginia has ruled that the assult charges pending against Fred L. Wallace, a second year student at the Law School, will be tried in the state court at Farmville, Virginia.

Wallace, who was arrested last July after an encounter with a Farmville policeman in a courthouse corridor, had petitioned that his case be heard in federal court. Judge John D. Butzner denied the petition, but ordered a stay in the proceeding until the Circuit Court of Appeals could rule on his decision.

Wallace said it would be inaccurate to call the ruling "either a victory or a defeat," since the Circuit Court will render the final judgement.