Robert Baltovich will have to wait longer for his day in court, now that a new judge must be picked to preside over his second-degree murder trial.

Jury selection was expected to begin today but was put on hold as it was announced that Justice David Watt, the judge scheduled to head the trial, had been promoted to the Ontario Court of Appeals.

About 300 jurors who were waiting to be called in the courtroom were sent home.

Baltovich is facing trial for the murder of his girlfriend Elizabeth Bain, who disappeared in June, 1990. Her body has never been found.

The trial is expected to be delayed for several months, possibly into the new year. Lawyers are also holding up the process as they are debating several motions.