proceedings. good morning, lisa. >> hey, chris, good morning. it's unusual for a judge to agree to hear arguments at this stage of the case, basically what edwards is trying to do today is to get his case thrown out before it goes for trial. some say it's the legal equivalent of a hail mary. >> reporter: john edwards walks back into a courthouse in greensboro, north carolina today, armed with five arguments why his indictment should be dismissed. it's a return to hard reality. just four days after the joyful celebration of his daughter kate's marriage. prosecutors charge that edwards requested, accepted, and received unlawful contributions in order to hide his involvement in an extramarital affair, and thereby, preserve the viability of his campaign to be president. >> no other candidate has ever been charged criminally with any case that even approximates this. >> reporter: ken gross the former head of enforcement for the federal election commission and previously a consultant for