PLATTSBURGH -- With a new attorney handling her case, Brenda Rabideau will have a little more time before she goes on trial in her estranged husband's shooting.

The Ellenburg Depot woman's trial was expected to begin today with jury selection, but her attorney, Stephen Johnston, filed a motion to have it postponed.

Though prosecutors were ready to proceed, Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie said his office consented to the request, which was then granted by Clinton County Family Court and Integrated Domestic Violence Court Judge Timothy Lawliss, who is presiding over the case.

Rabideau, 50, is accused of shooting her estranged husband in the back with a .22-caliber rifle last April.

The pair was allegedly involved in an acrimonious divorce when, police say, the local mother went to her former Mooers Forks home and began shooting at Ricky Rabideau after he returned to the house.

Mr. Rabideau, a 46-year-old self-employed contractor, managed to flag down help and is continuing to recover from the bullet wound.

Mrs. Rabideau was taken into custody after a brief standoff with police and has been facing a range of criminal charges ever since.

She has pleaded not guilty to second-degree attempted murder, first-degree attempted assault, second-degree assault, first-degree criminal use of a firearm and first-degree reckless endangerment.

Mrs. Rabideau remains free on $50,000 bail.

Her case was expected to go before a jury this week, but a change of counsel has led to the temporary delay.

Her former attorney, William Meconi, recently filed a motion consenting to have Johnston take over the case.

The late-September switch left Johnston seeking extra time to prepare for the trial and to file motions in the case.

Meconi had previously filed a notice for a defense based on mental disease or defect, saying the case involved widespread "emotional distress."

It is unclear whether Johnston will continue pursuing that defense.

About 200 potential jurors had been summoned for the trial, which has been delayed for at least 45 days to allow the defense enough time to file any motions.