The judge presiding over the Microsoft antitrust case has scheduled a hearing for Thursday afternoon to address issues concerning the production of evidence ahead of the trial. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson is looking to quiet a dispute that has arisen over Microsoft’s apparent reluctance to make key executives available for adequate testimony and its refusal to hand over the source code for Windows 95 and Windows 98 to lawyers for the government. The hearing, scheduled for 2pm, follows the filing of a motion by the Justice Department that more or less demands Microsoft’s compliance in the discovery process. The judge will hear arguments from both sides and will likely make a decision on the matter quickly. Jackson has previously let it be known that he won’t tolerate such wrangling and fully intends to get the trial, which is slated to begin September 8, off on time.
