A Federal court held a hearing here today on the issue.
He said the group would hold a hearing within 30 days.
The board has not held a public hearing on a capital case since 1992.
The judge agreed to hold a new hearing, which took place last week.
"I have made no decision other than to hold a hearing," he said recently.
The judge will hold hearings on the issue next year.
Instead, she added, the state will hold hearings on the plan.
The Senate will also hold early hearings on trade policy.
Department officials said they had no plans to hold public hearings.
It is time for Congress to at last hold public hearings on the issue.