Bonds to Make First Court Appearance

Barry Bonds is set to appear in federal court today to face charges of perjury for allegedly lying under oath about knowingly taking steroids. Because the brief hearing at the Federal Building in San Francisco will be Bonds' first public appearance following his indictment, it's expected to draw hundreds of journalists. To minimize disruption, two judges will be brought to Bonds, rather than having the slugger appear in two different courtrooms.

One judge will read and discuss the charges and one will take his plea and set a court date. Bonds recently added two new attorneys to his legal team who have extensive federal experience; Michael Raines, his attorney during the investigation, usually represents police officers accused of misconduct in state court, AP reports. Raines has been accused of alienating prosecutors during the investigation. (More Barry Bonds stories.)