Jury selection is scheduled to start Dec. 1 and is expected to take about two weeks. The trial is set to begin in the first week of January, with testimony expected to last about a month.

Higgins, 45, faces charges including vehicular homicide, driving under the influence and two counts of aggravated manslaughter. Prosecutors allege he was driving recklessly when his vehicle struck the brothers as they rode bicycles on a dark rural road in Salem County in August 2024. The crash happened the night before their sister’s wedding.

At the hearing, lawyers addressed evidence-exchange deadlines. Defense attorneys sought preliminary drafts of state troopers’ crash reports; prosecutors requested access to independent laboratory results obtained by the defense concerning Higgins’ blood-alcohol level.

A defense expert report disputes aspects of the police crash reconstruction. It argues that debris locations point to a different impact site and that the brothers were riding in the traffic lane, not on the shoulder, and lacked proper bicycle lighting. Police have said the brothers were not at fault. Photos of the damaged Jeep and bicycles were released alongside the defense report.

Higgins previously rejected a plea offer that would have brought a 35-year prison sentence. If convicted on all charges, he could face more than 90 years in prison.

John Gaudreau played 11 NHL seasons, most recently for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Matthew Gaudreau also played hockey and later coached.