(AP) With time running out for Rep. Tom DeLay to regain his House majority leader post, the Republican is pushing for dismissal of his criminal indictments.

Senior Judge Pat Priest won't decide for two weeks whether to toss out DeLay's conspiracy and money laundering charges. The case probably would not go to trial before January, Priest said at a hearing Tuesday.

DeLay wanted the charges stemming from an alleged 2002 campaign finance scheme resolved by then, as Congress reconvenes in January. The longer the House goes without a permanent majority leader, the more likely it is that Republicans will elect a new one.

"It's very, very important to Congressman DeLay because he's been required to step down from his leadership post simply because of the existence of an accusation," defense attorney Dick DeGuerin said.

Priest, a retired judge appointed to the case two weeks ago, noted that complex legal questions are involved and said he wants time to examine the written arguments of the defense and prosecution.

"I want time to read this stuff," Priest said.

In Congress, meanwhile, ambition by others for DeLay's leadership post grows and Republicans could move to permanently replace him, said Bruce Buchanan, a government professor at the University of Texas in Austin.

"That's one of the reasons he wanted an early trial, and if he didn't get an early trial, that's not good news for him," Buchanan said.

DeLay and two Republican fundraisers are accused of illegally funneling $190,000 in corporate donations to GOP candidates for the Texas Legislature. The direct use of corporate money for political purposes is illegal in Texas.

DeLay attorney Dick DeGuerin argued that the conspiracy charges were based on a law that was not even on the books when the alleged conspiracy happened.

DeLay did not speak with reporters before or after the hearing.

The hearing was his first appearance before Priest, who was appointed to the case after DeLay's attorneys had the first judge removed because of his contributions to Democratic candidates and causes.

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Associated Press writer Liz Austin contributed to this report.